— 🇺🇸/🇮🇱/🇮🇷 NEW: Axios reports that the deployment of a THAAD battery and U.S. military personnel to Israel indicates that Israel's stocks of 'Arrow' and 'David's Sling' interceptors were significantly depleted by Iran's October 1 ballistic missile attack.

While a U.S. military THAAD system was deployed to Israel in 2019 for an exercise, this marks the first operational deployment. This also follows the last time the U.S. sent troops and a Patriot missile system to Israel during the Gulf War in 1991.

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇮🇱/🇵🇸 Israel's War on Journalism

Over four days last week, the Israeli military killed two journalists and severely injured at least three others.

On Wednesday, October 9, as attacks intensified in northern Gaza, the military targeted the Jabaliya refugee camp, killing Al-Aqsa TV cameraman Mohamed al-Tanani and injuring his colleague Tamer Labad. Al-Jazeera cameraman Fadi al-Wahidi was shot in the neck and is now reportedly permanently paralyzed.

Israel has killed at least 175 journalists, the highest toll recorded by the Committee to Protect Journalists since they began tracking deaths in 1992; by comparison, 56 journalists were killed in Iraq in 2006, the next deadliest year.

Additionally, at least 69 journalists have been arrested, with 43 currently detained. Israeli authorities now hold the highest number of detained journalists globally, and at least five media offices have been shut down, with around 70 press facilities destroyed.

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇺🇳/🇮🇱/🇱🇧 UPDATE: Yesterday morning, Israel attacked UN peacekeepers in its fourth deliberate strike. Two IDF tanks forcibly entered the UN position, destroying the main gate and demanding that lights be turned off, leaving only after UNIFIL protested.

Later, peacekeepers reported rounds fired nearby by Israeli soldiers, releasing smoke that affected 15 personnel, causing skin irritation.

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇮🇱/🇪🇬 NEW: Hebrew media reports that Shin Bet Chief Ronen Bar secretly visited Cairo to meet with Egyptian Intelligence Chief Abbas Kamel, aiming to restart talks on a possible hostage deal.

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇮🇱/🇵🇸 NEW: An investigation by The New York Times found that Israeli soldiers have used Palestinian civilians as human shields for reconnaissance missions. This illegal practice, involving at least 11 squads across five cities in Gaza, often includes Israeli intelligence officers.

Civilians have been coerced to scout ambush sites, enter mine-rigged buildings, and handle potential traps. Seven Israeli soldiers described the practice as 'routine,' with significant support from superiors. Maj. Gen. Tamir Hayman confirmed that some detainees were forced to enter tunnels.

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇵🇸/🇮🇱 NEW: Al-Qassam Brigades ambushed an Israeli mechanized unit east of Jabalia Camp, north of the Gaza Strip.

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— ❗️🇮🇷/🇺🇸 NEW: Iran's Foreign Ministry announces the suspension of indirect communications with the United States

Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araqchi: 'Based on America's systematic dishonesty and the current state of war in the region, we have concluded that there is no benefit in exchanging messages with the U.S.'

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇪🇺/🇮🇱/🇮🇷 NEW: Despite the European Union Aviation Safety Agency lifting flight restrictions to Israel, European airlines are still hesitant. Wizz Air has canceled flights until at least October 23, while LOT has postponed them until November 1.

Concerns about Iran's attacks have made insurers reluctant to cover flights, leaving major carriers like Lufthansa, British Airways, and Air France without scheduled flights to Israel in the coming days.

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇱🇧/🇮🇱 Amnesty International recently analyzed 12 Israeli evacuation orders in Lebanon, revealing that the military issued misleading maps and short-notice warnings—sometimes less than 30 minutes before strikes began, often at night via social media when many people were asleep or offline.

Satellite imagery of the al-Hadath neighborhood in southern Beirut shows the area highlighted by the Israeli military's map in dark red circles, with wider circles indicating the actual area affected by the evacuation warning.

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇮🇱/🇮🇷 NEW: Israel's Minister of Finance, Bezalel Smotrich, says he is 'satisfied' with the attack plans against Iran that were proposed by the Israeli War Cabinet.

Smotrich is known to be an Israeli hardliner and war hawk, which could indicate that the upcoming strikes are expected to be major.

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇮🇱/🇮🇷 Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araqchi: 'Iran is ready for all possible scenarios, including total war'

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇮🇱/🇪🇬 NEW: Israel has paved the road along the entire Philadelphi Axis on the border between Gaza and Egypt, preparing for a permanent IDF presence on the Egyptian border

@Middle_East_Spectator

> Opens article
> "Benjamin Weinthal"
> Closes article