Iran’s sinister warning, as US bombs Yemen

Iran’s supreme leader has delivered his first sermon in five years, as Israel’s Iron Dome is overwhelmed by drones and US warships and aircraft attack Yemen’s Iranian proxies the Houthis.

A drone attack launched from Iraq penetrated Israel’s defences and slammed into an army base in the Golan Heights, killing two and injuring another 24.

The Iran-backed Islamic Resistance in Iraq took responsibility for the attack, saying it launched the drones at targets in northern Israel.

One drone was shot down by air defences, but the IDF said there was an apparent failure to detect a second drone and warn troops to seek shelter. It was the first time an attack from the Iraqi-based group caused major casualties.

It came after “supreme leader” Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delivered a rare sermon declaring Iran would not “back down” in attacking Israel.

Brandishing a rifle at his side, Khamenei addressed a massive crowd for the first time in almost five years to predict American support for Israel “will not last long”.

The Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei brandished a rifle in his first sermon in almost five years. Picture: AFP

A large crowd gathered as he delivers the sermon for the Friday prayer ceremony in Tehran. Picture: AFP

“The resistance in the region will not back down with these martyrdoms, and will win,” he said, adding that the 181 ballistic missile barrage was the “minimum punishment” they could expect for the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

A new analysis of footage from the massive barrage found at least 25 missiles broke through the Iron Dome, striking at least three military and intelligence facilities.

Twenty missiles struck the Nevatim air base and three hit the Tel Nof base, according to analysis of video verified by The Washington Post. Another two impacted near Tel Aviv in Cinema City Glilot, Hod Hasharon, close to Israel’s Mossad spy agency headquarters.

Those revelations came amid confirmation US warships and aircraft bombed 15 sites in Yemen, in a bid to stop the Iranian-backed Houthis continued attacks on Red Sea Shipping.

Smoke billows in Sanaa following explosions, on October 4, 2024. Strikes by the United States targeted three rebel-run cities in Yemen. Picture: AFP

Israel continued its offensive in Lebanon, which Beirut’s health ministry claims has killed more than 1,000 people.

Among the deaths are the “three top tiers” of Hezbollah’s command and control structure, according to the Israel Defence Force.

More than 11 strikes were launched on Hezbollah’s south Beirut stronghold to target the cousin of Nasrallah, who is considered to be the group’s next leader

.

The army hit more than 2,000 sites since it launched an incursion over the border with Lebanon four days ago.

“Command and control headquarters, communications, the entire leadership of [the elite Radwan Force], and in fact the entire second and third tiers of command below Nasrallah were eliminated,” said Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant

The United States, meanwhile, confirmed it had struck Houthi targets in Yemen, targeting weapons systems, bases and other equipment belonging to the Iran-backed group.

FOLLOW THE UPDATES BELOW:

Originally published as Iran’s sinister warning, as US bombs Yemen