Blinken: Worst attack on 'Israel' since the October war in 1973

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen
8 Oct 2023 23:10

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken pledges additional aid and assistance to "Israel".

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, right, speaks during a press conference after a meeting on security, at the National Palace in Mexico City, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023 (AP)

During an interview with CNN, U.S. Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, said that this is the worst attack on "Israel" since the 1973 war, referring to Operation Al-Aqsa Flood launched by Palestinian resistance on Saturday morning.

Blinken said in his statement to CNN, "Washington's focus now is on helping Israel ensure it has what it needs to deal with this situation."

"We are considering specific additional requests made by the Israelis, and they are likely to be announced today."

Blinken clarified that "those opposing normalization are Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran, so it would not be surprising if part of the motivation behind this attack is to disrupt efforts to normalize relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel."

"So far, we have not seen specific evidence that Iran is behind this attack specifically," he added.

Furthermore, The White House announced that President Joe Biden has ordered additional assistance to "Israel".

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, in turn, said he directed the aircraft carrier Gerald Ford to the eastern Mediterranean: noting that the United States government will provide the Israeli military with additional equipment and resources, including ammunition.

Israeli death toll nearing 1,000: Israeli media

Israeli media reported on Sunday that the number of Israeli deaths has risen to 600 and the wounded to 2,000, 350 of whom are in a serious, hopeless condition.

The Israeli media also announced that among those killed is the head of the elite Israeli Multidimensional unit, also known as the Ghost unit, Colonel Roi Levy.

The media also suggested that the death toll is nearing 1,000, pointing out that there are still quite a few settlers missing in addition to an unestimated number of settlers who were transferred to the Gaza Strip.

CNN reported that 44 Israeli occupation soldiers and 30 security officials have been identified among the killed.

Hezbollah targets 3 Israeli military sites in occupied Shebaa Farms

The Lebanese Islamic Resistance, Hezbollah, has claimed responsibility for the simultaneous targeting of three Israeli military sites located in the occupied Lebanese Shebaa Farms.

"On the path of liberating what is left of our occupied Lebanese land and in solidarity with the triumphant Palestinian Resistance and the [persevering] and patient Palestinian people... groups of martyr leader Hajj Imad Mughniyeh, this Sunday morning, corresponding to 8 October 2023, attacked three occupation sites in the occupied Lebanese Shebaa Farms," the Resistance party said in a statement.

The sites were targeted with large barrages of mortar shells as well as guided missiles, and they are ar-Radar, Zebdine, and Ruwaisat al-Alam.