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Middle East tensions are ratcheting up, bringing the region closer towards an all-out war. The geopolitical risk rose after Iran launched a major ballistic missile attack targeting sites across Israel. The escalation comes almost a year after Israel started its war on Gaza. A widening war in the region could carry heavy costs for the parties involved, including economic and humanitarian losses. The long-term effects could also have serious ramifications for the global economy. A surprise economic stimulus in China, but will the huge package revive its slowing economy?

Al Jazeera's Nour Odeh, joins live from Amman, Jordan. Our correspondent is in Amman, Jordan, because Al Jazeera has been banned from reporting in the Occupied West Bank. Even by the standards of the Second Intifada, this was a very large, very deadly strike on a densely populated, impoverished refugee camp. The targets of the attack are the leader of the Hamas military wing as well as the leader of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad military wing, in addition to other fighters and people who live in the area, including an entire family. The information is still coming in because hospitals have been overwhelmed.

Israeli air strikes have killed at least six people and wounded several others in Lebanon's capital, Beirut. Loud explosions were heard overnight in the southern suburb of Dahiyeh. That's where Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah was killed last week. Large fires could be seen in the area throughout the night.

The number of Haitians facing acute hunger has now reached half of the population. The country is dealing with political instability, and the ongoing fallout from a surge in gang violence earlier this year. More than 5 million people are struggling to feed themselves and their families

Tens of thousands of university staff and students in Argentina are protesting against drastic cuts to funding for higher education.
The austerity measures are part of President Javier Milei’s plans to slash public spending and control inflation.

The man leading the case against former US President Donald Trump for trying to overturn the 2020 election result has outlined his “sweeping and increasingly desperate” efforts to cling to power.

In a new 165-page filing with the court in Washington DC, special counsel Jack Smith says Trump lied to the public, to election officials and even his own vice President.

For nearly two weeks, Israeli air strikes have relentlessly targeted the Dahiyeh area of Beirut, which Israel claims harbors Hezbollah sites. Entire residential apartment blocks in the southern suburb have been destroyed, leaving the area in ruins. Many streets are so damaged that they can only be navigated by motorbike. Residents are struggling with the aftermath of the ongoing bombing campaign.

After months of intense fighting, Russia has captured the strategic town of Vuhledar in Eastern Ukraine. Vuhledar's high-ground position offers a crucial advantage for Russian artillery operations. The town, located in the Donetsk region, was fiercely defended by Ukrainian forces for over two years. However, Ukraine made the tactical decision to retreat in order to reduce casualties.

Israel has launched airstrikes deep into Lebanon, targeting the Bekaa Valley. The strikes, which hit the eastern town of Brital, have left at least 11 people dead, raising concerns of further escalations in the region. The Bekaa Valley, a strategic area near the border, is no stranger to conflict, but these latest attacks have shocked local residents. Israel's actions come amid rising tensions with Lebanon, and humanitarian groups fear more casualties if the violence continues.

Al Jazeera’s Assed Baig reports from Brital in Bekaa Valley.

Israel’s security cabinet has confirmed it will respond to Iran’s missile attack, heightening tensions in the region. International voices, including those from the UN, are urging rapid de-escalation to avoid further conflict. Meanwhile, the UN Security Council convened an emergency meeting in New York, on the same day Israel barred Secretary-General Antonio Guterres from entering the country.

Al Jazeera’s Gabriel Elizondo reports from UN Headquarters in New York.

Three men accused of killing two black women in Polokwane, South Africa, have appeared in court. The women were shot while searching for food, and their bodies were hidden in a pigsty. The case has ignited public outrage, highlighting the extreme poverty millions of South Africans face daily. The bail hearing has been postponed until next month, adding to the tension surrounding the case.

Al Jazeera's Haru Mutasa reports from outside the courthouse in Polokwane.

The supposed split between Western leaders and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is nothing but a mirage, argues Al Jazeera columnist Andrew Mitrovica, who adds that news organisations are up to their own chicanery as well.

An Iranian source has told Al Jazeera that Iran has sent a message to the United States, via Qatar, addressing the rising regional tensions.
In the message, Tehran told Washington that “the phase of unilateral self-restraint has ended.”
It also said any Israeli attack would meet an “unconventional response” that includes targeting Israeli infrastructure.
The indirect message also emphasised that Iran does not want a regional war, the official said.

The Sudanese army says it is continuing to regain ground from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Khartoum.
It launched a major offensive almost a week ago which saw the army taking control of several key bridges and parts of the city of Bahri.
Most residents fled when the conflict began in April last year but a few have remained.

Israel was able to deal serious blows to Iran and Hezbollah, but no one should expect them to “suddenly want to cut a deal”, argues renowned political scientist Stephen Walt, professor of international affairs at Harvard University.

Walt tells host Steve Clemons that Israel will have a hard time translating the short-term tactical successes it had in late September into larger strategic gains.

With one year into the war on Gaza, direct blows between Iran and Israel, and a looming war on Lebanon, Walt says US unconditional support for Israel is threatening its long-term future.

The Israeli army reported that eight of its troops, including a captain, were killed on Wednesday in clashes with Hezbollah fighters after crossing into Lebanon. Initially, the Israeli military confirmed the death of Captain Eitan Itzhak, marking the first combat loss in its ground invasion of Lebanon. Later, they announced the deaths of seven more soldiers.

Israel is carrying out what it calls 'limited, localised raids' against Hezbollah.

Hezbollah says it attacked and repulsed Israeli troops who infiltrated near the town of Odaisseh in southern Lebanon, and “inflicted losses and forced them to retreat”.

Across the rest of Lebanon, there have been continuous Israeli airstrikes - especially on the Lebanese capital.

Al Jazeera’s Zeina Khodr reports from the Lebanese capital, Beirut.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met with Qatar’s Emir Shiekh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, a day after Tehran's missile strike on Israel. The Qatari Emir expressed concerns about escalating tensions in Lebanon and reiterated Qatar’s commitment to ceasefire talks in Gaza. President Pezeshkian stated Iran does not seek war but warned of a "wider and harsher" response if Israel attacks again, referencing the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. Pezeshkian also highlighted that Iran was urged to show restraint to allow room for negotiations. Qatar has been mediating ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas.

Al Jazeera’s James Bays joins us live from Doha to discuss the latest developments.

In his speech at the UN Security Council emergency meeting, António Guterres expressed deep concern over the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, highlighting violations of Security Council resolutions. He condemned civilian casualties, including women and children, and the displacement of thousands. Guterres urged international support for humanitarian aid and emphasised the need to prevent an all-out war in Lebanon. He also condemned Iran’s missile attack on Israel, urging an end to the “deadly cycle of tit-for-tat violence,” stressing, “Time is running out.”

Several world leaders have repeated their support for Israel’s right to self-defence, after Iran attacked it with a barrage of missiles. But Israel has also been killing Iranian officials, has bombed Tehran and an Iranian embassy. Soraya Lennie asks, what’s the difference?

Helicopters have been transporting Israeli soldiers who were reportedly wounded in fighting against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. Al Jazeera’s Imran Khan is following the story from the region

Andreas Krieg, senior lecturer at the School of Security Studies at King’s College London, says any military response by Israel against Iran is unlikely to damage its nuclear facilities, which are “deep underground, under mountains, so very few options there”.

“The attack by Iran yesterday was far more severe than in April in terms of impact, so the response sent by Israel will have to be harsher than last time with aircraft perhaps entering Iranian airspace and targeting military sites,” Krieg told Al Jazeera.

“I don’t see how attacks on non-military sites, such as oil refineries, would have any impact or be any way justified as a form of response to this strike yesterday.

“What is key here is Israel wants to show resolve and strength, but there’s also a lot of hubris in terms of thinking Israel can achieve something that I think they cannot achieve militarily.”

The head of Hezbollah’s media office, Mohammad Afif, speaks to reporters in an area hit by Israeli raids in southern Lebanon.
He says the group has enough fighters, weapons and ammunition to push back Israel.

“We assure you, the enemy, that this is only the first round,” Afif told reporters in southern Lebanon, adding that the group was ready to “sacrifice our blood and soul for our homeland by the grace of God”.

“What happened in … Maroun al-Ras and other areas, including Odaisseh, was nothing but the tip of the iceberg,” he added.
Moreover, Afif said Israel’s air superiority will “turn into losses on the ground”.

The Israeli military is significantly increased its attacks across the Gaza strip. killing at least 60 Palestinians overnight and into Wednesday morning.
Air strikes targeted Gaza City in the north and Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza.
In a ground operation in Khan Younis in the south, Israeli forces killed at least 30 people.
12 of them from one family. Many residential buildings were destroyed while people were still inside.
Medical sources say the Israeli army prevented paramedics and civil defence teams from reaching the bomb sites.

Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud has the latest in Deir el-Balah, central Gaza.

Richard Dalton, a former UK ambassador to Iran, says support for Israel from the West is working against de-escalating the conflict. “It’s working against establishing a peaceful settlement across the region, whether within Palestine or beyond because it is creating this sense that Israel can do what it wants,” he told Al Jazeera.
“They can humiliate the United States. They can bank the military support from the United Kingdom and Israel’s European partners and not do anything to respond to the requirements of those countries that there should be progress towards Palestinian statehood as a prerequisite for peace,” he added.
Dalton said that public opinion in the West is turning against Israel due to how it has been fighting its wars.
“I believe that opinion has turned against Israel because of Israel’s action, because of Israel’s denial of basic human rights, because Israel’s denial that rights which it claims for itself should be accorded to others,” he said.

Al Jazeera’s senior political analyst Marwan Bishara highlights President Biden's precarious position ahead of the US election, as escalating violence in Israel complicates his policies. Despite opposing the war's expansion, Biden's administration has tolerated Israel's actions in Gaza, Lebanon, and beyond. Bishara suggests Biden should have anticipated a backlash, which now threatens his policy and election prospects. He argues that Biden still has leverage but has failed to use it, allowing Israel to act without consequence.

Tunisians vote in a presidential election on Sunday, but with most candidates disqualified or jailed, the current president seems certain to win a second term.
Kais Saied came to office in 2019, promising to root out corruption, after growing frustration with the previous government.

America's vice presidential candidates faced each other in their only debate before November's election.
As expected, the economy, abortion and immigration featured heavily.
But the event began with a question on the latest developments in the Middle East.

Iran has launched nearly 200 missiles at Israel which it says is in response to the assassination of the leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah as well as a top Iranian commander.
Israel says a response is coming but Iran warns it is ready to attack again, if provoked.

Some of those Iranian missiles reportedly landed close to the headquarters of Mossad in northern Tel Aviv. US military officials have confirmed that two naval destroyers were used to intercept some of Iran's missiles.

There are reports that there's been a major security incident involving Israeli soldiers on the border with Lebanon.
Israel said on Monday it had sent ground troops into Lebanon, in what it said was a targeted operation against the Lebanese group Hezbollah.

Al Jazeera’s Stefanie Dekker is in the Jordanian capital Amman for Israel’s reaction and Imran Khan is in Hasbaiyya in southern Lebanon for Hezbollah’s response.

When the People’s Republic of China was being founded in 1949, the nationalists who were defeated in the civil war were beginning a new existence on the island of Taiwan which is now following a very different course,


Al Jazeera’s Rob McBride reports from Taipei, Taiwan.

Iran has launched nearly 200 missiles directly at Israel.
The Revolutionary Guard Corps says the attack was in response to the killing of the leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah as well as a top Iranian commander.

He warns it will pay for the attack on Tuesday night.
Netanyahu claims the operation failed and says whoever attacks Israel will be attacked in retaliation.

US President Joe Biden says American forces actively supported the defence of Israel by launching interceptor missiles from 2 US Destroyers in the Gulf.
Biden reiterated that Israel has the right to defend itself.

White House National Security Council Advisor Jake Sullivan has confirmed that US forces again worked alongside the Israeli military in responding to the Iranian attack. “The United States military coordinated closely with the [Israeli Army] to help defend Israel against this attack. US naval destroyers joined Israeli air defense units in firing” at Iranian missiles, he said. He described the Iran attack as “appears to have been defeated” and said Washington was continuing to monitor for another wave of attacks. Sullivan described the attack as a “major escalation” by Iran and said that Washington was in discussions with Israel regarding its possible response.

The Israeli military reports that missiles have been launched from Iran, as sirens sound across the country. Flares and missiles are currently visible in the Tel Aviv sky. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said the missile attack underway on Israel is in response to the killing of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah last week as well as that of the Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh earlier this year, Iran’s Fars news agency reported.
Red alert sirens have been activated across central and southern Israel.

Joining us to discuss the latest developments are political analyst Akiva Eldar from Tel Aviv and Iranian affairs specialist Tohid Asadi from Tehran.

Israeli army spokesperson Daniel Hagari just held a televised address.
In it, he said the Israeli military is “fully prepared to defend and retaliate” to the Iranian attack, stressing that it would be in a “timely manner”.
Hagari says there are no additional threats heading toward Israel from Iran currently, indicating that the missile attack is over.

Al Jazeera’s Hamdah Salhut joins us from Jordan's capital, Amman to discuss the latest updates.

Looting, killing and demolition of entire neighbourhoods are just some of the actions Israeli soldiers carry out in Gaza.
Al Jazeera’s Investigative Unit has spent months gathering material that reveals Israeli forces are carrying out a range of illegal activities during the war on Gaza -- activities that could amount to war crimes.

Live from Tel Aviv showed a barrage of projectiles that the Israeli military says were Iranian missiles after warnings of an imminent attack.

Israel says it’s conducting “limited incursions” into southern Lebanon, with tens of thousands of troops at the country’s border. Al Jazeera’s Alex Gatopoulos explains why fighting on the ground against Hezbollah could be different.

Tim Walz and JD Vance are facing off this week in the first – and likely only – United States vice-presidential debate ahead of November’s election. Walz and Vance will take the debate stage in New York on Tuesday evening as the race gears up for the final stretch before Election Day. Walz, the governor of Minnesota, was chosen as Democratic candidate Kamala Harris’s running-mate in August. Vance – a senator from Ohio – was named as Republican candidate Donald Trump’s vice-presidential nominee as the Republican Party gathered for its national convention in July. Since then, both vice-presidential candidates have crisscrossed the country, holding rallies and town hall meetings as they try to appeal to voters.

Al Jazeera’s Shihab Rattansi reports.

A million people have been forced from their homes by Israel’s attacks on Lebanon.
Only a few airlines are still flying from Beirut's airport.
Many of those lucky enough to secure tickets out say they don’t care where they're headed, as long as they can reach safety.

Ori Goldberg, an Israeli political commentator and lecturer at Reichman University, says he doesn’t believe that Israel is lying about sending ground troops into Lebanon despite Hezbollah’s denial.

“It’s a grey area,” he told Al Jazeera from Tel Aviv. “This isn’t an invasion force. This isn’t an expeditionary force. There are no tanks. There are no infantry troops. These are mostly commando units.”

Golberg said that it is likely that Israeli forces are likely focusing on known Hezbollah installations or similar targets.

“So in that sense, if Hezbollah was expecting an invasion, then Hezbollah's statements are correct. Israel, however, has been exactly saying that this is what the force is,” he said. “So both sides are telling their version of the truth.”

Lebanon’s military has been largely absent from the fighting between the Israeli army and Hezbollah but as Al Jazeera’s Zeina Khodr explains, Lebanon’s government is having to deal with the fallout.

An Israeli air strike on Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza has killed 13 members of one family, seven of them were children.
The bombs destroyed a three-storey building.
Civil defence crews are searching for bodies under the rubble.Several people are being treated for internal injuries and head wounds as a result of a separate attack, which killed two women.

Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud reports from a funeral, in Deir el-Balah, in central Gaza.

Israel is once again fighting Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, nearly two decades after a UN resolution that was meant to bring peace to the area. Al Jazeera’s Virginia Pietromarchi looks at some of the history that’s shaping the conflict today.

Al Jazeera’s Imran Khan reports on how Israel has repeatedly attacked a main escape route for people in south Lebanon after issuing evacuation orders for dozens of towns and villages, forcibly displacing those who had not already left due to attacks against Hezbollah.

The Emir of Qatar has called for all parties to come to the table and agree to an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Qatar has been a key mediator in the Gaza ceasefire negotiations. Speaking at a summit in Doha, he said no peace is possible in the region without establishing a Palestinian state.

An Israeli air strike has killed at least seven people and wounded several others in central Beirut. People have woken up to the aftermath of that attack, which caused extensive damage. The Israeli military says it conducted what it called a precise air strike. It's the closest an attack has come to the centre of Lebanon's capital. It hit a building in the area of Bachoura, just one kilometre from Lebanon's Parliament and the Prime Minister's office.

At least seven people have been killed and eight wounded in Israeli air strikes targeting central Beirut overnight. It hit a building in the area of Bachoura - just one kilometre from Lebanon's Parliament and the Prime Minister's office.

Meanwhile, more Israeli strikes have targeted Dahiyeh, the southern suburb of Beirut where Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed last week. Israel has hit the area several times in the past two weeks, saying it was targeting Hezbollah sites.

And in Gaza, an overnight Israeli strike has killed at least one Palestinian and injured another in Deir el-Balah, in the central part of the strip. An Israeli helicopter gunship struck a tent housing displaced people in a school compound.

Alon Liel is a former director general at Israel's Foreign Ministry. He was also a former ambassador to South Africa. He says Israel has been weakened from nearly a year of war in Gaza and the prospect of a protracted conflict in the region has its population worried.

A rare Israeli air attack by military jets on the occupied West Bank has killed 18 Palestinians in the Tulkarem refugee camp.

US President Joe Biden says the US military and diplomats are “constantly in contact” with their Israeli counterparts. He said he would think about alternatives to striking Iranian oilfields if he were in Israel’s shoes, adding that he thinks Israel has not yet concluded how to respond to Iran. Biden also said sanctions on Iran are “under consideration right now”. Biden made his remarks to reporters at a White House news briefing.

Lebanon’s Hezbollah reported a third explosive targeting Israel’s Golani Brigade in Maroun al-Ras. Hezbollah claims it resisted Israeli forces trying to infiltrate the village, causing casualties, while Israeli helicopters evacuated soldiers. Despite Israel's air superiority, Hezbollah’s resistance is hindering Israel’s ground operation, preventing expected gains.