Heaviest rocket barrage on Haifa since start of war | IDF moves 4th division into southern Lebanon | Israeli soldier killed in heavy fighting in northern Gaza

12:44 - Rocket alarms in Haifa and the Krayot area

For the second time within 40 minutes, rocket alarm sirens were activated in the city of Haifa, several of its Krayot suburbs, and several towns to the east of Acre, including Yarka, Julis and Kafr Yasif, after 20 rockets were launched by Hezbollah.

An elderly woman was wounded by shrapnel and taken to a hospital in light-moderate condition, according to the Magen David Adom rescue service. Several rockets hit buildings and caused damage but no further injuries.

Israeli media described the attacks as the largest on the Haifa area since the start of the war.

12:11 - Rocket alarms in Haifa, the Krayot area, Acre and Shefar'am

Rocket alarm sirens were activated in the city of Haifa, several of its suburbs called the Krayot, and several other nearby towns including Shefar'am and Acre.

The IDF said that around 85 rockets were launched in the barrage, with media reporting that four of them fell in the Krayot area.

There were no immediate reports of casualties.

11:09 - Rocket alarms in Tiberias and other towns near Sea of Galilee

Rocket alarm sirens were activated in the city of Tiberias and nearby towns, including Arbel, Kfar Zeitim and Kfar Hittim.

There were no reports of casualties or damage caused by the rockets fired from Lebanon.

The IDF later updated that 25 rockets were launched, of whom some were intercepted.

10:00 - Former premier Naftali Bennett reiterates call for strike on Iran's nuclear facilities

Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett repeated his call for Israel to strike the Iranian nuclear program in response to its ballistic missile assault last week.

“For the first time, we have the ability to act against Iran without fearing a terrible and intolerable reaction,” Bennett said in a video statement.

“The Iranian regime of terrorism and murder is exposed and vulnerable for the first time,” he added.

“This is a one-time window of opportunity in which we have both the legitimacy and the ability to severely damage the Iranian regime and its nuclear program.”

09:15 - IDF kills three Hamas terrorists who took part in Oct 7 massacre

Three Hamas terrorists were eliminated in a joint operation of the IDF and Shin Bet around two weeks ago, the Israeli military announced.

One was killed while hiding in a Hamas command center in the former Shujaya school in Daraj Tuffah. He took part in the massacre in the area of Kfar Azza and Nahal Oz.

The two other terrorists were killed in a strike in Rafah, and also took active part in the Hamas invasion, as well as other terror activities, the army said.

09:07 - Iranian FM: We are ready to respond if Israel attacks

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that any attack on Iran will be met with a response and that they have a bank of targets in Israel that Iran is ready to attack.

“We advise the Zionist regime not to test Iran’s will,” Araghchi said. (Reuters)

08:25 - IDF moves fourth division into southern Lebanon

The IDF announced that a fourth division joined the fighting against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon last night.

The 146th Reserve Division and its 2nd 'Carmeli' Infantry Brigade and 205th 'Iron Fist' Armored Brigade, with support from the 213th Artillery Regiment, began operations in the western sector of southern Lebanon.

The 146th Reserve Division joins three regular IDF divisions, the 98th, 36th, and 91st, which are already conducting operations in the central and eastern sectors of southern Lebanon.

The 91st Division and its three brigades joined the fighting on Sunday night.

כוחות אוגדת ׳המפץ׳ (146) בהן חטיבת ׳כרמלי’ (2) וחטיבת ׳אגרוף הברזל׳ (205) החלו בפעילות קרקעית ממוקדת ומתוחמת בגזרה המערבית של דרום לבנון נגד יעדים ותשתיות טרור של ארגון הטרור חיזבאללה, זאת לאחר כשנה שבה האוגדה ניהלה קרב הגנה בגבול הצפון-מערבי>> pic.twitter.com/9nMjJomokm
— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) October 8, 2024

07:57 - Sirens throughout the Western and Upper Galilee

Rocket alarms were activated in the area of Hanita and Shlomi in the Western Galilee, as well as Mount Meron and surrounding towns in the Upper Galilee.

7:45 - IDF announces elimination of Suhail Hussein Husseini, commander of Hezbollah's headquarters

The IDF announced this morning that it eliminated Suhail Hussein Husseini, the head of Hezbollah's staff headquarters, in a precise airstrike on Monday.

The Hezbollah headquarters oversaw logistics for the group, handling budgeting and resource management. In his position as head of the staff, Husseini played a crucial role in weapon transfers between Iran and Hezbollah.

He also oversaw the distribution of advanced weaponry to Hezbollah units and was also a member of Hezbollah's military high command, called the Jihad Council.

7:16 - Delegations from Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah meet in Cairo for reconciliation talks following years of disconnect

Egyptian authorities are hosting the two delegations in the Egyptian capital Cairo for reconciliation talks.

The Hamas delegation is headed by the organization's senior officials Khalil al-Hayya, deputy head of the movement's political bureau in the Gaza Strip, and Hussam Badran, head of the department for Arab relations.

As a part of the talks, Fatah and Hamas will attempt to reach a preliminary agreement and, if successful, an extended meeting will be held with the participation of all Palestinian factions. (Ynet)

5:57 - IDF soldier killed during heavy fighting in northern Gaza

IDF Staff Sergeant Noam Israel Abdu was killed during heavy fighting in the northern Gaza Strip on Monday, the Israeli military stated.

"In the incident where Staff Sergeant Noam Israel Abdu was killed, another soldier from the 17th Battalion (Infantry Corps squad commanders training), Bislamach Brigade, was severely injured," the IDF added.

"In an additional incident, a soldier from the 7012th Battalion, 3rd Brigade, was severely injured during combat in southern Lebanon. "

"The soldiers were evacuated to a hospital for further treatment. Their families have been notified."