Middle East latest: Iran's supreme leader responds to Israeli strikes; dozens injured as truck hits bus stop near Tel Aviv in 'terror incident' (2024)

Key points
  • At least 35 wounded as truck hits bus stop in central Israel|Police probing 'terror incident'
  • Joe Biden says he hopes Israeli attack on Iran is 'the end'
  • Iranian leader says strike shouldn't 'be downplayed nor exaggerated'|President warns against further attacks
  • Explained:Why did Israel attack Iran?
  • Israeli strikes kill at least 22 in northern Gaza - Palestinian officials
  • Live reporting by Katie Williams

11:00:01

Netanyahu says Israeli strike 'severely harmed' Iran

Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel's strikes "severely harmed" Iran and "achieved all its goals".

Israeli warplanes attacked several military targets across Iran before dawn yesterday in retaliation for Tehran launching ballistic missiles at Israeli territory earlier this month.

In his first public comments since the strikes, the Israeli prime minister said:"The air force struck throughout Iran. We severely harmed Iran's defence capabilities and its ability to produce missiles that are aimed toward us."

"The attack in Iran was precise and powerful, and itachieved all its objectives," he added.

Last night, Mr Netanyahu's office denied reports that Israel had avoided striking Iranian gas and oil facilities due to pressure from Washington.

"Israel chose in advance the attack targets according to itsnational interests and not according to American dictates," his office said.

10:49:14

Collision of truck into bus stop being treated as 'terror incident' - police

Israeli police say the collision of a truck into a bus stop in central Israel is being treated as a "terror incident".

At least 35 people were injured, six seriously, after a truck hit the bus stop north of Tel Aviv this morning, according to emergency services (more in 9.34 post).

Asi Aharoni, Israeli police spokesperson, said: "We are treating this as a terror incident.

"The identity of the terrorist is still unknown, apparently it is an Israeli- Arab. At the moment we, together with the Shin Bet [Israeli security agency], are trying to find out the identity and get absolute certainty."

The incident occurred near the Glilot military base and the headquarters of Israel's Mossad spy agency.

10:36:49

IDF orders 14 villages in southern Lebanon to evacuate as it prepares more attacks

Israel's military has ordered residents of 14 villages in southern Lebanon to evacuate "immediately" for their "own safety".

The IDF has repeatedly issued evacuation orders during its air and ground offensive aimed at degrading Hezbollah infrastructure in Lebanon's south.

In the latest warning, the IDF's Arabic spokesperson Avichay Adraee said residents of the 14 villages should flee north of the Awali river.

"Anyone who is near Hezbollah elements, facilities or weapons is putting [their] life in danger," he said in a post to X.

"You are prohibited from going south. Any movement south could be dangerous to your life. We will inform you in due time to return to your homes as soon as the conditions are right," he wrote.

Last night, Hezbollah issued a similar warning telling residents to leave their homes in 25 towns across northern Israel, which it said had become "legitimate military targets".

10:18:16

Police update on bus stop incident expected shortly - as situation 'very fluid'

Our security and defence editor Deborah Haynes is at the scene near Tel Aviv where a truck hit a bus stop, leaving dozens of people injured.

She says investigators are still trying to work out the circumstances of the incident and that a police update is expected "any moment now".

The situation is "very fluid", Haynes says.

"We can see a lot of activity. There are soldiers here as well as police and paramedics," she says.

"The wounded have been taken away to hospital, and so right now the people on the scene here are investigators and those that are tasked with trying to tidy up."

09:50:00

In pictures: Emergency services at scene after bus stop 'ramming'

As we've been reporting, Israeli emergency services say at least 35 people have been injured after a truck hit a bus stop in central Israel.

Paramedics and police are at the scene near the Glilot military base north of Tel Aviv.

The Magen David Adom ambulance service said it sent "care units, ambulances, motorcycles, first responders, paramedics and EMTs" to what was described as a "mass-casualty event".

The service said it has provided "90 units of blood" to hospitals.

09:34:43

Police: Driver shot and 'neutralised' after truck rams into bus stop, injuring 35

We've more detail to bring you now after a truck reportedly rammed into a bus stop north of Tel Aviv in Israel (see 8.30 post).

A spokesperson for Israel's police force said a preliminary investigation indicated that the truck collided with passengers as well as a bus at the stop near the Glilot military base.

The driver was shot and "neutralised", police said.

The circumstances of the crash remain under investigation, and police have not indicated whether they are treating the incident as a suspected terror attack or a traffic accident.

Israel's emergency medical service Magen David Adom said it was called to a "mass-casualty event" and that at least 35 people were injured, including six in a "serious condition".

09:10:58

Four Israeli soldiers killed in southern Lebanon

Four Israeli soldiers have been killed while fighting in southern Lebanon, the Israeli military has said.

Israeli forces have been operating in the area for several weeks after launching a ground incursion targeting the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group.

Several Israeli soldiers have been killed during the operation.

08:30:48

'Dozens wounded' as truck hits bus stop in central Israel

Dozens of people have been injured after a truck hit a bus stop north of Tel Aviv, Israeli authorities have said.

Police say the circumstances are under investigation, while Israeli media is reporting that at least 20 people are wounded.

Israel's Magen David Adom ambulance service says it is treating dozens of people at the site, at least four of whom have serious injuries.

The incident occurred on a road near the headquarters of Israel's Mossad spy agency.

08:22:01

Two injured in drone attack in northern Israel

Two people have been injured in a drone attack in northern Israel, according to authorities.

The explosive drone, launched from Lebanon, hit an industrial area of the region, they said.

It comes as Israel continues to wage its air campaign and ground offensive against the Lebanese Hezbollah militant group, which began firing into northern Israel after Hamas's 7 October attack triggered the war in Gaza.

08:01:14

Iranian leader says Israel's attack shouldn't 'be downplayed nor exaggerated'

Israel's attacks on Iranian military sites "should neither be downplayed nor exaggerated", Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said, without directly calling for a retaliation.

Iran's official IRNA news agency cited Mr Khamenei as saying Iranian officials should determine how to convey Tehran's power to Israel.

"Whatever is in the best interest of this nation and country should be carried out," he was reported to have said.

The IDF says it targeted military sites in response to "months of continuous attacks" from Tehran and its proxies.

The strikes targeted bases in Ilam, Khuzestan and Tehran provinces, according to Iran.

Middle East latest: Iran's supreme leader responds to Israeli strikes; dozens injured as truck hits bus stop near Tel Aviv in 'terror incident' (2024)

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