Israel-Iran Tensions LIVE: Blasts Near Israeli Embassy In Copenhagen; Airlines Extend Flight Suspension

Palestinian medical officials said Wednesday that at least 32 people have been killed in Israeli strikes in southern Gaza, according to the Associated Press.

The European Hospital in Khan Younis said it received the bodies after heavy Israeli airstrikes and ground operations in the city overnight and into Wednesday.

(Via AP)

According to Reuters, two blasts were reported in the vicinity of Israel's embassy in the northern outskirts of Copenhagen on Wednesday. Currebtly, an investigation is underway by Danish police.

"No one has been injured, and we are carrying out initial investigations at the scene," Copenhagen police said on social media platform X.

A large area was cordoned off amid heavy police presence, according to local media reports.

In light of the escalating tensions in the region, several airlines have extended their suspension of flights to and from Israel and Lebanon.

• As per reports, Dutch airline KLM suspended its flights to Tel Aviv till the end of the year given the situation in the region.

• German airline Lufthansa suspended flights to Beirut till November 30, to Tel Aviv until October 31 and to Tehran till October 14.

• Emirates reportedly cancelled flights to and from Iraq, Iran and Jordan scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday amid rising tensions in the Middle East

• Iran Air, Iraqi Airways, Bahrain-based Gulf Air and Doha-based Qatar Airways suspended all flights to Beirut until further notice.
  

Amid Iran's massive missile attack on Tuesday, the Israeli Air Force on Wednesday launched a fresh attack on Hamas "command and control complex" in Gaza. According to the Israeli forces, the former Al-Bureij Preparatory School was being used by Hamas to plot attacks on Israel.

Separately, at least nine people were killed and 20 were injured in an Israeli airstrike on a school housing displaced people in Gaza, However, it is not immediately clear if the report was referring to the same school.

Following Israeli PM Netanyahu's vow to retaliate, Iran’s armed forces joint chief Maj Gen Mohammad Bagheri on Wednesday has threatened to target Israel's’ infrastructure, if it takes any further retaliatory action against Tehran.

"If [Israel]... wants to continue these crimes or wants to do anything against our sovereignty and territorial integrity, tonight's operation will be repeated several times stronger and all their infrastructure will be targeted,” Bagheri said earlier.

As fragments of the ballistic missiles fell on Jordan which lies on the east of Israel, three people were injured, said a government spokesman. State-run Al-Mamlaka TV reported that a two-metre-long missile fragment fell in the Al-Suwaniyah area while another piece fell on a roof.

According to the Jordanian Minister of Government Communication Mohammad Momani, shrapnel fell in several different regions, However, and no serious injuries were reported.

"Protecting Jordan and Jordanians is our first responsibility," he said, adding that Jordan will not become a battleground.

United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based airlines FlyDubai temporarily cancelled flights to Jordan, Iraq, Iran, and Israel on Wednesday and Thursdayin view of the escalation in Israel.

Israel on Tuesday reopened its airspace after the country's airport authority briefly closed airspace to incoming flights during Tuesday's attack. But after the army said the threat had passed, the authority said flights were operating as normal again.

Terming it a “dangerous escalation”, Asutralian PM Anthony Albanese said, “Australia condemns Iran’s missile attack on Israel. This is an extremely dangerous escalation – Australia and the global community have been clear in our calls for de-escalation,” the Australian prime minister said in a social media post.

“Further hostilities put civilians at risk. We are monitoring the situation closely and encourage Australians in Israel to follow the advice of local authorities.”

Further highlighting the skill and bravery of the US troops, Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said the US intercepted multiple missiles launched by Iran towards Israel.

“We condemn this outrageous act of aggression by Iran, and we call on Iran to halt any further attacks, including from its proxy terrorist groups,” he says in a statement.

“I am deeply proud of the skill and the bravery of the US troops who helped to save lives today from Iran’s assault and who continue to support Israel’s defence and to prevent a widening conflict or escalation”, he added.

Vowing retaliation against Iran for its missile barrage on Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday said, "Iran made a big mistake tonight and it will pay for it. Whoever attacks us, we attack them", he said.

Netanyahu further underlined that the missile attack was a failure and that Iran would soon learn a painful lesson just as its enemies in Gaza, Lebanon and other places have learned.

In light of the rising tension following the Iranian missile attacks, the Indian Embassy in Tel Aviv issued an advisory for Indian nationals in Israel.

"Please exercise caution, avoid unnecessary travel within the country and stay close to the safety shelters. The Embassy is closely monitoring the situatiuon and remains in regular touch with the Israeli authorities to ensure the safety of all our nationals," the advisory read.

"Following the situational assessment, it was decided that it is now permitted to leave protected spaces in all areas across the country," the embassy said in a separate statement.

According to Israeli police, at least six people were killed in a shooting attack in Tel Aviv's Jaffa on Tuesday evening. Police said two suspects opened fire on a boulevard in the Jaffa neighbourhood in southern Tel Aviv. The two suspects were killed, police said.

The attack came moments before a massive barrage of rockets from Iran towards Israel, sending people towards bomb shelters across the country, including in Tel Aviv.

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Taking cognisance of the constantly escalating conflicts in the Middle East, United Nations General Secretary Antonion Gueterres on Tuesday said," I condemn the broadening of the Middle East conflict with escalation after escalation. This must stop. We absolutely need a ceasefire."

Social media platforms and Iranian TV stations are flooded with footage of missiles being launched in the darkness from unidentified locations in Iran. Iranian state television, long controlled by hard-liners, also aired images of people in Arak, Qom and Tehran celebrating Iran's missile attack in Israel.

According to Iran's official statement, the attack targeted air and radar bases as well as security apparatus that planned the killing of senior Hamas and Hezbollah figures.

National Security Advisor to President Biden, Jake Sullivan says, "Today, Iran launched nearly 200 ballistic missiles towards targets in Israel. The United States military coordinated closely with the Israeli Defense Forces to help defend Israel against this attack. US naval destroyers joined Israeli Air Defense units in firing interceptors to shoot down inbound missiles. President Biden and Vice President Harris monitored the attack and the response from the White House Situation Room, joined in person and remotely by their national security team."

"We are still working with the IDF and the authorities in Israel to assess the impact of the attack. But at this time, we do not know of any deaths in Israel. We are tracking the reported death of a Palestinian civilian in Jericho in the West Bank. We do not know of any damage to aircraft or strategic military assets in Israel... This attack appears to have been defeated and ineffective. This was first and foremost the result of the professionalism of the IDF, but in no small part because of the skilled work of the US military and meticulous joint planning in anticipation of the attack."

Commenting on the assisting the Israeli forces in intercepting the Iranian Missiles, US President Joe Biden said, "At my direction, the United States military actively supported the defence of Israel. We are still assessing the impact but, based on what we know, the attack appears to have been defeated and ineffective and this is a testament to Israeli military capability… (It is) also a testament to intensive planning (between) the United States and Israel to anticipate and defend against a brazen attack."

Further reaffirming their strong support for Israel, the president said, "Make no mistake, the United States is fully supportive of Israel. And I just spent the morning and part of the afternoon in the situation room, meeting with my whole national security team… The national security team, as I said, is in constant contact with Israeli officials and counterparts..."

• Adding to the escalating war situation in the Middle East, Iran in afresh salvo fired a barrage of missiles at Israel on Tuesday, sending Israelis diving into shelters. However, no immediate report of casualties were there.

• While Israel claimed its extensive defence repertoire has intercepted many of the missiles, Iran's Paramilitary Revolutionary Guard said 90 per cent of missiles it launched against Israel hit their targets successfully.

• While confirming the attack on Israel, Iran referenced the recent deaths of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Revolutionary Guard Gen. Abbas Nilforushan, both killed in an Israeli airstrike. Iran's official statement also mentioned the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, a top leader of Hamas in Tehran in July.