The Sunday Subject: October 27, 2024

Israel launched air strikes against military targets in Iran.

The strikes marked the completion of Israel’s long-anticipated retaliation for Iran’s missile attack on October 1st. The Israeli Defence Forces said they had carried out “precise and targeted strikes,” while Iran confirmed “limited damage” in Tehran and the death of two soldiers.

NATO confirmed that North Korea is sending troops to Russia to support its invasion of Ukraine.

Ukraine estimated that North Korea had committed 11,000 troops to the invasion. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the escalation would be a “very, very serious issue” with possible repercussions in the Indo-Pacific region. South Korea said it might supply Ukraine with weapons in response.

Israel escalated its offensive in Lebanon, targeting institutions linked with Hizbullah, including banks.

Israel launched air strikes in Tyre, a port city where many displaced people had fled, and hit the suburbs of Beirut. US officials asked Israel to scale down its strikes on Beirut to avoid more civilian deaths and told Netanyahu that Israel needs to allow more humanitarian aid into northern Gaza. Meanwhile, Israeli strikes killed at least 45 people in Gaza. Antonio Guterres, the UN secretary-general, described the situation in northern Gaza as “unbearable” and “harrowing.”