Tel Aviv: Iran has launched over 180 ballistic missiles at Israel, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict. Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei shared an illustration of an underground weapons cache on his social media platform 'X' and declared the attack as a "Victory from God and a near conquest." He added that "the strikes of the resistance front on the worn-out and decaying body of the Zionist regime will be more striking."
نَصرٌ مِنَ الله و فَتحٌ قرِيب... pic.twitter.com/l53SfjEslF
— KHAMENEI.IR | فارسی 🇮🇷 (@Khamenei_fa) October 1, 2024
ضربات جبههی مقاومت بر پیکر فرسوده و رو به زوال رژیم صهیونی، بحول و قوهی الهی کوبندهتر خواهد شد.
— KHAMENEI.IR | فارسی 🇮🇷 (@Khamenei_fa) October 1, 2024
In response, Israel’s Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, stated, “Israel is under attack from Iran. Israel will prevail. Iran's fanatic genocidal theocrats have made a fatal mistake.”
Israel under attack from Iran. 🇮🇱 will prevail. Iran’s fanatic genocidal theocrats have made a fatal mistake. pic.twitter.com/FA4bCA9eDL
— 🇮🇱 Reuven Azar (@ReuvenAzar) October 1, 2024
Israel Defence Forces (IDF) Spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari described the attack as a "severe and dangerous escalation." He confirmed that most of the incoming missiles were intercepted by Israel's defense systems in coordination with a coalition led by the United States. However, a few missiles hit central and southern Israel.
“Our defensive and offensive capabilities are at the highest levels of readiness. Our operational plans are ready. We will respond wherever, whenever, and however we choose, in accordance with the directive of the government of Israel,” Hagari stated, emphasising that Iran and its proxies have been attacking Israel from seven fronts since October 7.
“Iran’s attack is a severe and dangerous escalation. There will be consequences…We will respond wherever, whenever and however we choose, in accordance with the directive of the government of Israel.”
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 1, 2024
Watch IDF Spokesperson RAdm. Daniel Hagari regarding Iran’s large-scale… pic.twitter.com/A8pyC7eawI
He reiterated that the IDF would continue to take all necessary measures to defend the nation and protect its citizens.
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Johannesburg (AP): A 32-year-old suspect has been arrested in connection with a mass shooting which claimed the lives of 12 people including three children at an unlicensed pub earlier this month, South African police said on Monday.
The man is suspected of being one of the three people who opened fire on patrons in a pub at Saulsville township, west of South Africa's capital Pretoria, killing 12 people including three children aged 3, 12 and 16.
At least 13 people were also injured during the attack, whose motive remains unknown.
According to the police, the suspect was arrested on Sunday while traveling to Botlokwa in Limpopo province, more than 340 km from where the mass shooting took place on Dec 6.
An unlicensed firearm believed to have been used during the attack was recovered from the suspect's vehicle.
“The 32-year-old suspect was intercepted by Limpopo Tracking Team on the R101 Road in Westenburg precinct. During the arrest, the team recovered an unlicensed firearm, a hand gun, believed to have been used in the commission of the multiple murders. The firearm will be taken to the Forensic Science Laboratory for ballistic analysis,” police said in statement.
The suspect was arrested on the same day that another mass shooting at a pub took place in the Bekkersdal township, west of Johannesburg, in which nine people were killed and 10 wounded when unknown gunmen opened fire on patrons.
Police have since launched a search for the suspects.
South Africa has one of the highest homicide rates in the world and recorded more than 26,000 homicides in 2024 — an average of more than 70 a day. Firearms are by far the leading cause of death in homicides.
The country of 62 million people has relatively strict gun ownership laws, but many killings are committed with illegal guns, according to authorities.
According to police, mass shootings at unlicensed bars are becoming a serious problem. Police shut down more than 11,000 illegal taverns between April and September this year and arrested more than 18,000 people for involvement in illegal liquor sales.
