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Israel and Hezbollah exchange heavy fire in major escalation
Israel says its warplanes have struck Hezbollah targets in Lebanon after detecting moves to launch an aerial attack on Israel.
The Israeli military said around 100 fighter jets had destroyed “thousands” of rocket launchers on Sunday morning, in what it described as an act of “self-defence”. Lebanon’s health ministry reported that three people had been killed.
Hezbollah later said it had fired hundreds of rockets towards northern Israel, calling it “phase one” of a multi-stage attack in retaliation for the killing of a senior commander. No casualties have been reported in Israel.
The exchange marks a major escalation of tensions between Israel and the Iran-backed Shia Muslim armed group.
There have been almost daily exchanges of fire across the Israel-Lebanon border since the day after the start of the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza on 7 October.
Hezbollah has said it is acting in support of the Palestinian group that is also backed by Iran. Both Hamas and Hezbollah are proscribed as terrorist organisations by Israel, the UK and other countries.
So far, more than 560 people have been reported killed by Lebanon’s health ministry, the vast majority of them Hezbollah fighters, while 26 civilians and 23 soldiers have been killed in Israel, according to authorities.
The UN says almost 200,000 people have also been displaced on both sides of the border.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said in a statement early on Sunday that it had identified “extensive preparations” for a large-scale aerial attack by Hezbollah, which had prompted it to launch the pre-emptive strikes.
It added that its planes had struck over 40 launch areas, some of which it said were aimed towards central Israel.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli forces were “determined to do everything possible to defend our country” and return tens of thousands of residents of northern Israel who have been displaced by the conflict.
“Whoever harms us – we will harm them,” he added.
Foreign Minister Israel Katz said Israel was “acting to protect its citizens and territory” and “does not seek all-out war” in the Middle East.
Israel said Lebanese civilians had been warned to immediately leave areas where Hezbollah was operating.
Lebanon’s ministry of public health said three people had been killed in Israeli strikes in the south of the country.
The ministry said one person was killed in a drone strike on a car in Khiam. Hezbollah announced the death of a fighter from the allied Shia Amal movement in the village.
The ministry also said an Israeli attack on the village of Tayri had killed two people, without providing further details.
Shortly after the Israeli strikes, Hezbollah said it had launched 320 Katyusha rockets aimed at 11 Israeli military bases and barracks.
It claimed the barrage had “completed and accomplished” its initial response to last month’s killing of one of the group’s senior military commanders, Fuad Shukr, in an Israeli strike in Lebanon’s capital, Beirut. Israel had blamed Shukr for the killing of 12 children in a rocket attack in the occupied Golan Heights.
Hezbollah also dismissed as “empty” the Israeli military’s statement that its strikes on Sunday had thwarted a larger attack.
The group’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, is scheduled to give a speech later on Sunday.
The escalation has happened as efforts continue for a ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza – the main hope to de-escalate tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border.
[BBC]
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Showers above 100 mm are likely at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Uva and Southern provinces and in Anuradhapura district
WEATHER FORECAST FOR 08 OCTOBER 2026
Issued at 05.30 a.m. on 08 October 2026 by the Department of Meteorology
Misty conditions can be expected at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Galle and Matara districts during the early hours of the morning.
Showers or thundershowers will occur in the most part of the island after 1.00 p.m. Heavy showers above 100 mm are likely at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Uva and Southern provinces and in Anuradhapura district.
The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damage caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
Former first lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa, wife of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa was produced before the Hulftsdorp court, after being arrested by officers of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) and produce
Smriti Mandhana has been named India’s all-format women’s captain on the same day Harmanpreet Kaur stepped down from the role after nearly a decade since she first took over.
Mandhana – vice-captain to Harmanpreet for much of this period – has previously led India in four ODIs and 18 T20Is, apart from captaining Maharashtra in domestic cricket and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Women’s Premier League.
Mandhana’s first assignment will be the limited-overs series against Zimbabwe beginning with the three T20Is in Raipur from October 16. On Tuesday, Mandhana was part of the selection meeting chaired by Amita Sharma to pick the squad for the tour.
Terming the appointment a “special honour”, Mandhana also acknowledged the contributions of her predecessor in her welcome note.
“I would also like to acknowledge Harmanpreet and the contribution she has made as captain over the years,” she was quoted as saying by the BCCI. “She has led the team with great commitment and has been an important part of our journey.
“I understand the responsibility that comes with this role and look forward to working with the team, learning along the way and giving my best to take Indian cricket forward.”
Mandhana’s appointment comes on the back of a review meeting held on Monday in Guwahati. Chaired by secretary Devajit Saikia, the meeting was also attended by Mandhana, Harmanpreet and head coach Amol Muzumdar to chart a roadmap forward, with an eye on next year’s inaugural Women’s Champions Trophy in February as well as the T20 World Cup and Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.
Mandhana, India’s best all-format batter, has been knocking on the doors for a while. Earlier this year, she led RCB to their second WPL title, in which she also top-scored in the final.
In September, she overtook Mithali Raj to become the leading run-scorer in women’s international across formats. Her 18 international hundreds are also the most in women’s cricket. She is also the first Indian woman to score centuries in all formats.
[Cricinfo]
Showers or thundershowers will occur in most part of the island after 1.00 p.m.
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