The Sky TG24 special on the war in Iran
Iran-US war, Axios: pressing Netanyahu on Trump to strike Tehran after the midterms
According to some sources, Netanyahu urged Trump to strike Iran immediately after the midterm elections. The US president, however, takes his time: "Tehran wants to reach an agreement, we will see what it will be about. We are in no hurry. We still have to deal with one or two nuclear sites". The Supreme Leader of Iran Khamenei warns the US: immediate response and "without geographical restrictions" to any enemy threat. Eight dead in Gaza in IDF raids, including a child
Donald Trump spoke with Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday about Iran and possible new military action. Axios reports this, citing some sources, according to which Netanyahu urged Trump to strike Iran immediately after the mid-term elections. The US president, however, seems intent on letting the negotiations take their course. In fact, after a telephone conversation with Netanyahu, Trump took his time on Iran: "Tehran wants to reach an agreement, we will see what it will be about. We are in no hurry. We still have to deal with one or two sites. Let's look at the Pickaxe Mountain nuclear site".
Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei warns the US against resuming attacks after media rumors according to which the US president has already warned his Gulf allies about resuming the war against the regime the day after the midterm elections. Khamenei gave orders for an immediate and "geographically unrestricted" response to any enemy threat.
The death toll in attacks by Israeli forces in Gaza today has risen to eight, including a child. This was reported by emergency services and local hospitals. Five people were killed in Khan Younis and three others in Gaza city, according to a statement from the Civil Defense of the Palestinian territory.
Israel, neither Netanyahu nor Eisenkot have a majority: the scenarios for the new government
The elections for the Israeli Knesset portray a country politically divided in half: no majority emerged from the vote. President Herzog seems expected to meet, already in the next few days, even before the publication of the final results and the start of the consultations, Benjamin Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot - separately - to start testing the feasibility of a government of national unity.
Trump: "Iran make a deal or we will finish it"
“Either Iran will make a deal, or we will finish it.” Donald Trump said this in Iowa, underlining that the situation will be resolved one way or another.
Israel elections, who is Gadi Eisenkot: the candidate who challenges Netanyahu
Some commentators define him as "the man who embodies everything that the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is not". At 66 years old, most of which were spent wearing a military uniform, former general Gadi Eisenkot is the main opposition candidate in the October 27 Israeli elections. Of Moroccan origins, he entered politics in 2022 and today leads the Yashar party which in Hebrew means "straight", "honest". And the votes of those who want to put an end to the Netanyahu era could now converge on him.
More oil is exported from the Persian Gulf than before the war: here's why
Oil exports from the Persian Gulf have surpassed pre-conflict levels, through a makeshift shipping system operating under US protection. This mechanism is allowing oil tankers to continue transiting the Strait of Hormuz despite Iran's attacks. Oil flows in the Middle East averaged more than 24 million barrels a day in the week ending Oct. 18, surpassing prewar levels of 23.3 million, according to data from ship-tracking firm Kpler. About 14 million barrels per day passed through Hormuz, or 82% of pre-war levels.
Iran, Trump: "I had an excellent conversation with Netanyahu"
US President Donald Trump has confirmed that he had an "excellent" telephone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about Iran. "I had an excellent conversation with Netanyahu," he said, speaking to the press, "we discussed Iran."
October 7, 2023, what happened on the day of the Hamas attack on Israel
October 7, 2023 is a date imprinted in the history of Israel. That morning 3 years ago, the "Al-Aqsa Flood" operation began, long planned in secret by the Hamas group. The South of Israel, at the first light of dawn, was taken by surprise: while rockets began to be launched from the nearby Gaza Strip towards the Jewish State, the terrorists entered Israel by land, on foot, with homemade aircraft or motorcycles, carrying out massacres in the kibbutzim, even attacking a music festival, and killing and kidnapping those they found along their way. To date it is estimated that the victims have been over 1,200. Those events had - and still have - an enormous impact on Israel and the rest of the Middle East.
Moab, what is the "mother of all bombs" that Trump could use in the war in Iran
According to CNN, the US army is preparing new attack plans in Iran which include the potential use of the Gbu-43/b Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb (MOAB), better known as the "mother of all bombs". The use, aimed at energy infrastructures and military sites, depends on the possible order of the President of the United States, Donald Trump, for the resumption of military operations before or after the mid-term elections, set for November 3rd.
Likud criticizes Election Commission: "Disconcerting"
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's party called it "extremely disconcerting" that Central Election Commission Chairman Noam Sohlberg described the allegations of foreign interference as "very serious" and then "established a priori that they had no impact on the election outcome" before the investigation had even reached its conclusion. The Likud claims that "just 4,612 votes were enough to determine the shift of one seat in the Knesset from Ra'am to the right-wing bloc; a shift that would have completely altered the electoral results and the political landscape." The party says that until the investigation into allegations of foreign interference is concluded, "a dark shadow will continue to hang over the election results in Israel." Sohlberg, along with Shin Bet chief David Zini and Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, said that while they could not reveal all the details of the investigation, "the claim that the evidence we currently have could overturn the overall outcome of the election is unfounded."
Ukmto: "A ship was hit in the Strait of Hormuz"
A ship has been hit by "an unidentified projectile" in the Strait of Hormuz, Britain's Maritime Safety Agency (Ukmto) said, after Qatari media reported an earlier attack on an oil tanker. UKMTO said "the captain of a merchant ship raised a distress signal, reporting that another vessel had been hit by an unidentified projectile" in the Strait. Earlier, Qatar's state news agency reported that a Qatari oil tanker was attacked with "unidentified objects" while transiting Gulf waters on Friday. The attack hit a liquefied natural gas tanker, the Al Mayeda, belonging to the Qatar Gas Transport Company, the Qatar News Agency reported. Since the Middle East war began in February, Iran has targeted shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf generally in an attempt to assert control over shipping. Iran maintains that ships must obtain its permission to transit the strait's waters. In response, the United States imposed a blockade of Iranian ports.
Israel, consultations starting on Wednesday: Arab parties ready to support Eisenkot
There is no clear majority in Israel after the October 27 elections. The anti-government parties have begun calls and agreements to form a common bloc against Netanyahu and Eisenkot, leader of the first opposition party Yashar, has received the offer of external support from the Arab parties. After the consultations, the president of Israel, Isaac Herzog, will entrust the task of forming the government.
Houthis: "Saudi raids on the Yemeni port of Hodeidah"
The Yemeni port of Hodeidah, under Houthi control, was hit by Saudi airstrikes. This was reported by the media of the fighters in the context of the conflict which sees the group - supported by Iran - opposed to a Saudi-led coalition that supports the internationally recognized government. “The Saudi enemy launched two airstrikes,” Al-Masirah television station said. Hodeidah, located on the Red Sea, is the largest port under Houthi control and is the main entry point for food and aid destined for areas controlled by the militants. The port is also used for the import and storage of oil.
Herzog will begin consultations with all groups elected to the Knesset
The director general of the Israeli presidential residence, Eyal Shviki, wrote to representatives of the parliamentary groups elected to the 26th Knesset, informing them that President Isaac Herzog will begin consultations with all groups on Wednesday, before assigning a Knesset member the task of forming the next government. This was reported by the president's spokesperson. “Today I contacted representatives of all groups elected to the Knesset, inviting them to consultations with the President, before a Knesset member is entrusted with the task of forming the government. As the President stated today, the presidential residence is completely open to all parliamentary groups and President Herzog expects their representatives to participate in the consultations with an open mind, ready to listen, share ideas and prevent another round of elections,” said Eyal Shviki. "We are preparing to welcome the representatives of the parliamentary groups to the presidential residence starting from Wednesday and to carry out the consultations in a dignified, respectful and concrete manner. I hope and believe that, with a sense of responsibility and mutual respect, we will carry out this democratic process correctly, in the interests of the good and prosperity of the State of Israel," he added.
Israel Election Commission: "Regular voting, suspicions do not prejudge the outcome"
"The elections for the 26th Knesset were held regularly. The results reflect the will of the voters. Any irregularities are being investigated. Our position is that even if the suspicions are confirmed, this does not affect the fairness of the elections or the results as a whole." The President of the Election Commission, Judge Noam Solberg, said this in a video statement with the head of the Shin Bet David Zini and the Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, regarding the investigation into alleged foreign interference to encourage the turnout of Arab voters at the polls.
The Houthis reiterate threats against the Saudi oil giant and the air force
Houthi media, citing a military official, reiterated threats against Saudi oil giant Aramco and the kingdom's air force today. “Aramco's facilities are within reach of the Yemeni military and investments in them are a loss-making venture,” the military official said, as reported by the Houthis' Saba news agency. The official also warned international airlines not to use Saudi airspace "except those in Mecca and Medina." The Houthis have targeted oil facilities and airports in the kingdom since the war in Yemen reignited in July, leaving 24 people dead in Saudi Arabia last month. The October 10 attack on Riyadh's international airport became the bloodiest on Saudi soil in recent years, with at least 13 killed. Today the coalition said it had intercepted a missile and a drone launched by the Houthis "towards the southern region".
