Russia captures strategic stronghold after 2 years of Ukrainian resistance
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KYIV, Ukraine — Russian troops on Wednesday took charge of the eastern Ukrainian town of Vuhledar, a bastion that had resisted intense attacks since Russia launched its full-scale assault in 2022.
The advance of Moscow’s forces, which control just under a fifth of Ukraine, has underlined Russia’s vast superiority in men and materiel as Ukraine pleads for more weapons from the Western allies that have been supporting it.
Ukraine’s eastern military command said it had ordered a pullback from the hilltop coal mining town to avoid encirclement by Russian troops and “preserve personnel and military equipment.”
The 72nd Mechanized Brigade, the last unit defending the city, posted photos of wounded soldiers to Facebook with the message: “These are very hard days. Very!”
The Russian defense ministry did not mention Vuhledar in its daily battlefield report.
Russian Telegram channels, however, published video of troops waving the Russian tricolor flag over shattered buildings.
The town, which had a population of over 14,000 before the war, has been devastated, with Soviet-era apartment buildings smashed apart and scarred.
President Vladimir Putin has said Russia’s primary tactical goal is to take the whole of the Donbas region — the provinces of Donetsk and Luhansk — in southeastern Ukraine.
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Russia controls about 80% of the Donbas, a heavy industry hub where the armed conflict began in 2014 when Moscow-coordinated pro-Russian "separatist" forces took control over part of the region after a pro-Russian president was toppled in Kyiv and Moscow seized Crimea from Ukraine.
Since Russia sent its army into Ukraine in February 2022, the war has largely been a story of grinding artillery and drone strikes along a heavily fortified 620-mile front involving hundreds of thousands of soldiers.
But in August the battlefield became much more dynamic: Ukraine smashed through the border in Russia’s Kursk region in a bid to divert Russian forces, and Russian troops began advancing faster than before in eastern Ukraine.
Russian forces have been pushing westwards at key points along some 95 miles of the front in the Donetsk region, with the logistics hub of Pokrovsk also a key target.
They captured Ukrainsk on Sept. 17 and then began encircling Vuhledar, about 50 miles south of Pokrovsk.
Russia has been using pincer tactics to trap and then constrict Ukrainian strongholds. Images from the area showed intense bombardment of the town with artillery and aerial glide bombs.
Neither side discloses losses, and each said the other had paid a high human price for the town.
“Having suffered numerous losses as a result of prolonged battles, the enemy did not stop trying to capture Vuhledar. In an effort to take control of the city at any cost, he managed to direct the reserves to carry out flanking attacks, which exhausted the defense of the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. As a result of the enemy’s actions, there was a risk of the encirclement of the city,” Ukraine’s eastern command said early Wednesday.
“The higher command has given permission to carry out a maneuver to withdraw units from Vuhledar in order to preserve personnel and combat equipment, to take up positions for further actions.”
Control of Vuhledar, which lies at the intersection of the eastern and southern battlefields, is significant because it will ease Russia’s advance as it tries to pierce deeper behind the Ukrainian defensive lines.
Russian bloggers said Russia could now try to push towards Velyka Novosilka, just over 20 miles to the west.
Vuhledar also sits close to a railway line connecting Crimea to the Donbas region.
Russian forces currently control 98.5% of the Luhansk region and 60% of the Donetsk region.
Successo di pubblico e una contestazione all'International Salieri Circus Award
L'evento di Legnago si è chiuso con sette spettacoli che hanno fatto sempre registrare il tutto esaurito. Squalificata l'artista ucraina AnnaDallArt per la sua protesta contro la presenza di un giurato russo
Saluti finali all'International Salieri Circus Award 2024
Si è concluso con una polemica ed un grande successo la quarta edizione dell'International Salieri Circus Award, uno degli appuntamenti più prestigiosi per l'arte circense internazionale. Accompagnati dalla musica eseguita dal vivo dall'Orchestra Ritmico Sinfonica Italiana diretta dal maestro Diego Basso, artisti provenienti da 21 diverse nazioni si sono esibiti sul palco del Teatro Salieri di Legnago in sette spettacoli che hanno fatto sempre registrare il tutto esaurito.
Al termine della kermesse, il direttore generale Luciano Giarola ha elencato dati importanti. La vendita di tutti i biglietti è stata raggiunta con largo anticipo rispetto allo scorso anno e molte persone non hanno potuto accedere al teatro. Ed anche gli eventi collaterali hanno registrato una grande partecipazione, con un ottimo afflusso alle mostre e alle altre iniziative in programma.
Uno dei fattori chiave del crescente successo di pubblico è stato individuato nell'estensione della durata del festival, con l'inaugurazione delle mostre nella settimana precedente, per un totale di 16 giorni di eventi.
Giarola ha infine annunciato le date degli spettacoli della quinta edizione, che si svolgeranno dal 25 al 29 settembre 2025.
E la quarta edizione verrà ricordata per i vincitori premiati al termine dell'Award Gala, ma anche per una plateale protesta avvenuta sul palco domenica scorsa, 29 settembre.
La protesta di Anna Petrenko (Fermo immagine video Instagram - annadellart)
Sul palco era salita la giocoliera ucraina AnnaDellArt, nome d'arte di Anna Petrenko. Il sipario del Salieri si è aperto, ma invece di esibirsi AnnaDellArt ha mostrato a tutti la bandiera dell'Ucraina e dei cartelli contro uno dei giurati, il russo Maxim Nikulin. Una contestazione diretta agli organizzatori che hanno messo in giuria il direttore del circo di Mosca. «Nikulin è funzionario di un paese aggressore - ha spiegato sui social AnnaDellArt - Sotto la sua guida, il Circo di Stato di Mosca offre benefici ai partecipanti alle azioni militari in Ucraina e ai loro figli, mentre le brigate di artisti favorevoli alla guerra si esibiscono per i soldati. Nikulin aiuta l'esercito e sostiene il governo russo. Ogni giorno le bombe continuano a colpire case pacifiche in Ucraina. Come può una persona con un'immagine del genere essere invitata nella giuria dove si esibiscono gli artisti ucraini?».
AnnaDellArt, anche per il semplice fatto di non essersi esibita e quindi di non aver dato materiale per essere giudicata, è stata squalificata. La giovane si è scusata con il pubblico che non ha potuto vedere il suo spettacolo ed ha ringraziato che l'ha supportata. «Attraverso la mia esibizione - ha aggiunto - ho espresso il mio malcontento per la decisione degli organizzatori che giudico un tentativo di riabilitare l'immagine della Russia, Paese aggressore nella guerra contro l'Ucraina».
Mikail Karahan (Foto di Gaby Merz)
AnnaDellArt è stata quindi esclusa dai possibili vincitori dei premi del festival.
Alla fine, la giuria presieduta da Anita Gambarutti Orfei ha conferito il Salieri d'Oro, massimo riconoscimento, a Mikail Karahan per la sua performance con la ruota Cyr. L'artista, a Legnago, ha conquistato il pubblico grazie a un numero che unisce virtuosismo tecnico e grande espressività comica. Il Salieri d'Argento è andato al giocoliere russo Aleksei Teslin, che ha stupito con la sua energica esibizione con il diabolo, e agli acrobati aerei Xtreme Flying, che hanno incantato con un romantico e coinvolgente numero di acrobatica aerea e pole dance. Il Salieri di Bronzo è stato assegnato al verticalista bielorusso Cello, che ha eseguito difficili equilibri sulle mani con eleganza e precisione, al duo aereo americano Luna Girls, che ha emozionato con una performance armoniosa al cerchio aereo, e alla trapezista italiana Valentina Padellini, della compagnia ArteMàkia, che ha saputo coniugare danza e trapezio in un numero intenso e sperimentale realizzato con la regia di Milo Scotton.
Il Premio della Critica, deciso dalla giuria della stampa composta da giornalisti italiani e stranieri esperti del settore, è stato assegnato all'acrobata russo Ivan Slipchenko, per la sua straordinaria combinazione di teatralità e abilità nell'equilibrismo. Il Premio Musica, conferito dal maestro Diego Basso, è andato all'artista belga Alexandra Malter, che ha incantato con una coreografia fluida e perfettamente sincronizzata con la musica, utilizzando l'hula hoop. Il Premio del Pubblico, deciso tramite gli oltre 1.550 voti raccolti tramite l'app del festival, è stato vinto da Mikail Karahan, acclamato per la sua maestria e simpatia. Il Premio Ansac (Associazione Nazionale Sviluppo Arti Circensi) è stato assegnato all'equilibrista russo Artem Sherstobitov, per il suo impressionante controllo durante complesse evoluzioni su strutture precarie. Il duo di clown argentini Crazy Mozarts ha ricevuto il Premio Città di Legnago per la loro sinfonia di gag comiche e musicali che ha coinvolto e fatto ridere il pubblico. Infine, Il Premio Fondazione Teatro Salieri è stato consegnato dalla presidente Mariagrazia Moratello all’artista Cello.
E durante l'Award Gala, è stato assegnato il Salieri di Platino alla Carriera a Paolo Casanova, in arte Carillon. La sua emozionante performance con la cantante Nox e la successiva consegna del premio hanno incantato il pubblico, celebrando la sua carriera come massimo interprete della "Clownerie del Cuore".
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С сожалением и понятными пожеланиями, Dimitriy.
Благодарю российских дипломатов, всех коллег и просто неравнодушных людей за поддержку в ситуации, которая произошла в штаб-квартире ООН. Будем бороться дальше. Не за себя, а за то, чтобы никто не мог препятствовать нашим зрителям и слушателям в доступе к информации.
Цитата:
Возмутительная история с Валентином Богдановым и его съемочной группой. Будем бескомпромиссно бороться за права наших журналистов в ООН!
Цитата:
Официальный представитель МИД России Мария Захарова раскритиковала решение секретариата ООН понизить уровень аккредитации шефа нью-йоркского бюро ВГТРК Валентина Богданова:
"Если бы секретариат ООН наказывал всех журналистов, которые задают вопросы дипломатам, передвигающимся по штаб-квартире, то в ООН не осталось бы ни одного представителя средств массовой информации".
Цитата:
Россия направила ноту генсеку ООН с требованием прояснить обстоятельства инцидента с Валентином Богдановым и дать оценку действиям представителей Германии, заявила Мария Захарова.
"Мы будем добиваться справедливости, восстановления нашего журналиста в правах и вынесения соответствующих… предписаний в отношении действий Анналены Бербок и ее команды хамов".
DAVID PATRIKARAKOS: My Israeli sources say there's never been a better time to destroy those who want them dead. All of us who hope to live in peace must pray they succeed
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The only surprise was that the attack didn’t come sooner. Israel has spent weeks pounding Iran’s proxies – Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza.
It has killed both Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah – and on Monday night, Israel finally put boots on the ground in southern Lebanon. The humiliation for Tehran’s mullahs has been relentless.
So last night’s sudden barrage of missiles – 500 illuminated the skies over Israel, which caused panic but inflicted limited casualties – was hardly unexpected. This day was always going to come.
It’s deja vu in the Middle East. Once more, Iran strikes Israel. Once more, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) are marching across a border – this time to neutralise Hezbollah which has struck Israeli civilians, towns and cities almost daily since the October 7 Hamas atrocities.
Islamist terrorists in the Middle East refuse to let the Jewish state live in peace; and the Israelis have had enough.
Both Hezbollah and Tehran are united by a single goal: to destroy a sovereign democracy. It is an intolerable situation for any nation state. My Israeli sources tell me they are ready for anything Iran throws at them. They believe that there has never been a better time to destroy those who want them dead.
Britain and America have significant ¬military assets in the region, which will likely support Benjamin Netanyahu’s forces. The United States has a senile incumbent and a vice president focused on winning an election. The absence of internal US leadership gives Israel more latitude to operate than it has perhaps ever had. And after its extraordinary successes over recent weeks, it has something else vital, too: momentum.
With so many actors involved, the regional and possibly global war that no one wants but everyone fears is now all too real.
Hezbollah has turned southern Lebanon into a staging post for its attacks. Its border villages have become military bases; its houses ammunition stores and its civilians human shields.
Now that Iran has attacked, the IDF’s mission in Lebanon could not be more critical. It has described the invasion as one that will be ‘limited, localised and targeted’. The goal is to disrupt Hezbollah’s infrastructure and eliminate its military positions there.
Simple and quick, right?
The problem here is that this is exactly what the IDF told me the Gaza operation would be like when I visited their HQ in October 2023. Almost a year later, Israeli troops are still in the strip. Hamas, though massively degraded, is there, too.
The IDF will not find southern Lebanon a hospitable place. It’s a beautiful part of the world, formed by the Jabal Amel mountains – rich in olives, grapes and tobacco – and the Litani River, which originates in the Beqaa Valley and flows southward, creating a fertile coastal plain, before turning west towards the Mediterranean.
But southern Lebanon is also home to something else: hundreds of miles of tunnels and caves, a subterranean labyrinth of terror that Hezbollah (Arabic for Party Of God) uses to hide, to store its massive arsenal and to launch its demented attacks.
Israel knows this. Military spokesman Daniel Hagari, an articulate and thoughtful man in my experience, says special forces have in fact operated inside Lebanon dozens of times over the past months, destroying tunnels ¬wherever they find them. I don’t doubt it. The Israelis are excellent at this sort of thing. But still, I can’t help but worry – not least after last night’s spectacular missile onslaught. Lebanon is a tiny country that has always exercised an influence far beyond its size. As I said on 90 Seconds To Midnight, the Mail’s weekly global news podcast, it’s worth remembering a dictum of international politics: ‘Beware of small states.’
Believe me, no country has felt this curse more than Israel – itself a very small state. On June 6, 1982, Israeli forces invaded Lebanon, aiming to quickly neutralise the threat to their north.
Operation Peace For Galilee was launched after gunmen from the Palestinian Abu Nidal Organization attempted to assassinate Shlomo Argov, Israel’s ambassador to the United Kingdom. It was time, Jerusalem decided, to take them out once and for all. Eighteen years later the Israelis, exhausted and demoralised, finally withdrew, the threat to their north still present.
When the Israelis whacked ¬Nasrallah last week, they did not only themselves, but the world, a favour. The Hezbollah boss was not just a terrorist butcher – he was a highly capable one. With help from Iran, of course, the group has achieved more military success against Israel in just over 30 years than almost all the Arab states had in around 80.
First, it kicked the Israelis out of the ‘security zone’ they held in southern Lebanon for 18 years. Then, in 2006, it fought Israel to something approaching a draw in a head-to-head war. It began when Nasrallah ordered his men to kidnap some Israeli soldiers, which they did, and which brought a ferocious Israeli response. So vast was the destruction to Lebanon that Nasrallah said that had he known how the Israelis would react he would never have ordered the kidnapping. But to many in the Arab world, Hezbollah had once again stood up to the ‘Zionist oppressor’. They were heroes.
Well, no longer.
‘Unprecedented’ is an overused word in political and journalistic discourse, but Israel’s ability to pack thousands of Hezbollah ¬pagers with explosives that were then distributed to the group’s members across Lebanon was truly something I’ve never seen before – an operation that will be studied in military history for -decades to come.
Then they swiped Nasrallah himself. The Israelis have since taken out around 98 per cent of Hezbollah’s leadership. But Hezbollah is not just a terror organisation, it is a highly organised ¬paramilitary group (not to mention political party and social actor in Lebanon). Within its second-rung leadership, there are men who are smart and exceptionally ruthless as they’ve spent years fighting on the ground.
Already you can see how its ¬tactics are shifting. After Mossad took out Hezbollah’s pagers (and then walkie-talkies) it shattered the group’s communications, not only internally but with its ¬masters in Tehran and terrorist allies across the region. But it also forced Hezbollah to get creative and, in true Islamist style, this has meant regression – to earlier, more analogue forms of contact.
The militants now pass messages verbally, the group’s vast networks allow them to spread widely rapidly and, of course, it’s much harder to hack or intercept them with satellites.
Meanwhile, the bulk of Hezbollah’s ground forces remain – brandishing large amounts of sophisticated weaponry (including guided missiles theoretically capable of hitting deep inside Israel).
Israel is embarking down a hard and brutal road. By splitting its resources between two fronts –not including any direct action it might take on Tehran – it may well be weakened. But what choice does it have?
What would we demand of Downing Street if thousands of rockets had rendered large parts of Britain uninhabitable? What would be the point of our armed forces if not to remove that threat?
We must hope that Israel ¬succeeds in its missions against both Iran and its proxies, quickly and with minimal loss of life.
This is a battle not just for regional security, but for anyone who cares about democracy, the rule of law and the right to live in peace – and the Israelis are fighting it on behalf of us all.
Цитата:
How Israel could target Iran's sprawling 'oil island' where 90% of the country's exports flows as IDF 'prepares to launch retaliation for missile barrage attack'
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Israel could be plotting to target Iran's sprawling 'oil island' where 90 per cent of the country's exports flow as the IDF is peparing to exact revenege following last night's missile barrage attack.
The Israeli military branded the multiple strikes 'a severe and dangerous escalation' and warned 'there will be consequences,' as tensions in the Middle East continue to spiral.
Now, in retaliation to the launch of almost 200 Iranian missiles into Israeli territory, the country is planning a major response which is likely to destory Iran's most crucial oil export hub - Kharg Island.
Known as Iran's 'Oil Island', up to 95 per cent of the country's oil exports travel through its doors, meaning Israel could target the terminal in the Persian Gulf with the aim of denying the country oil revene.
Located just 15miles off Iran's Northern coast, Kharg Island was once the world's largest offshore crude oil terminal and a hit could carry devastating consequences.
A view of oil facilities on the Kharg island on the Persian Gulf about 1,250km south of Tehran on February 23, 2016
Located just 15miles off Iran's Northern coast, Kharg Island was once the world's largest offshore crude oil terminal and a hit could carry devastating consequences
Up to 95 per cent of the country's oil exports travel through Kharg Island
Such an attack will likely end with a short-term crude price spike of around five per cent as it carries the potential for widespread international disruption - primarily to Iran's exports to China, the world's largest importer of oil.
Iran is the third biggest producer of crude oil in the OPEC group of oil-producing countries and is heavily reliant on its oil and gas exports to prop up its ailing economy amid years of sanctions.
Former Israeli Intelligence official and regional analyst Avi Melamed told MailOnline the Iranian strike was likely to 'provoke a significant counterstrike', warning that 'Israel's response this time will likely be broader and less restrained than it was in the wake of Iran's unprecedented direct strike in April.'
But Iran's armed forces joint chief of staff Gen. Mohammad Bagheri said this morning that the Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) was prepared both defensively and offensively to repeat its missile attack with 'multiplied intensity', should Israel seek retribution.
'If the Zionist regime, that has gone insane, is not contained by America and Europe and intends to continue such crimes or do anything against our sovereignty or territorial integrity, tonight's operation will be repeated with much higher magnitude and we will hit all their infrastructure,' he said.
With crude supplies in the region under threat, oil prices have sky-rocketed by more than two per cent.
Iran is believed to be producing more than a staggering three million barrels a day, placing it at a five-year high.
Helima Croft, an analyst at RBC Capital Markets, an investment bank, told CNBC: 'There has been a lot of complacency about this war'.
Ballistic missiles being launched from Iran against Israel and intercepted in the sky. Over 150 ballistic missiles had been launched from Iran against Israel and intercepted in the sky across the country
A view of lighting flares fired by Israeli army at the Netzarim Corridor area in the central part of the Gaza Strip, Gaza on October 01
Iran launched a missile attack on Israel's commercial hub Tel Aviv
Artillery is fired by the Israeli Army into Lebanon, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, as seen from Jish, northern Israel October 2, 2024
Iranian state TV broadcasted the moment it launched nearly 200 missiles towards Israel
She added that amid the ongoing chaos, traders have mostly ignored the threat of oil supply disruptions .
'We do need to think about a scenario where Iranian oil supplies are at risk,' Croft warned.
US lawmakers have backed a strike against Iranian oil production.
Senator Lindsey Graham, of South Carolina, said he would 'urge the Biden administration to coordinate an overwhelming response with Israel, starting with Iran's ability to refine oil'.
In a statement, he said Iran's oil refineries should be 'hit and hit hard'.
The threat comes after Iran last night fired a barrage of nearly 200 ballistic missiles at Israeli territory with Israeli military now preparing a 'significant retaliation' to the shocking attack.
The IDF said it intercepted 'a large number' of the ballistic missiles thanks to the country's Arrow and David's Sling missile defense systems, and assistance from US destroyers and Jordanian interceptors in the region.
Israel Defence Forces' Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said: 'There were a small number of hits in the centre of Israel, and other hits in Southern Israel.
'The majority of the incoming missiles were intercepted by Israel and a defensive coalition led by the United States.
'Our defensive and offensive capabilities are at the highest levels of readiness.
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Цитата:
Did Israel's Iron Dome withstand Iran's rocket salvo? How missile defense system intercepted missile barrage...and what could happen if it fails
A vindictive Iran last night sought to strike at the heart of Israel with a shocking attack that saw an unprecedented barrage of almost 200 ballistic missiles streak towards Israeli cities.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran 'has made a big mistake' and 'will pay' for the attack, with Israel's military preparing a 'significant retaliation' to the bombardment that could see if strike nuclear facilities and oil fields.
It's unclear how many of the missiles actually penetrated Israel's defences, with the scale of the strike proving to be one of the biggest tests ever faced by the country's hi-tech Iron Dome network.
A triumphant Tehran has claimed up to 80 per cent of its missiles ripped through Israel's sophisticated air defences - but the IDF disputed this, saying most were shot down, with the aid of US warships in the region.
Dramatic footage from the aerial assault showed missiles streaking through the sky, with some exploding mid-air after being hit by Israeli air defence missiles - while others were seen slamming into the ground and blowing up.
And as the fallout of last night's raid continues to clear, amid fears a retaliatory strike could ignite 'all-out war' in the Middle East, defence experts have said Israel's air defences were broadly successful in protecting the country.
'If this is the best [Iran] can do, then Israel will chalk this up as yet another victory. Yes, another humiliation for Tehran,' defence expert Michael Clarke said.
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Israeli officials have not reported any serious injuries as a result of Tuesday's air attacks, but Israeli medics said two people had been slightly wounded by shrapnel.
Israel's Iron Dome system garners the most attention of the country's air defences as it's used most frequently to bring down unguided, short-range rockets often fired by Hezbollah and Hamas.
However, the country's air defences are made of three critical 'overlapping' systems that can blast threats out of the skies at different ranges.
The targeting of guided ballistic missiles that travel at higher altitudes, longer ranges and faster speeds requires a different system from the Iron Dome to take them down.
For this, Israel uses both 'David's Sling 'and the 'Arrow 2 and 3' home-grown air defence systems which are built to destroy medium-range and long-range ballistic missiles.
Defence expert Prof Clarke said Iran's shock attack had sought to 'overwhelm' Israeli defences - and was a step up from Tehran's last attack on April 13 when more than 300 projectiles were fired and largely repelled.
He said TV pictures indicated a 'fairly fierce, sort of missile, counter-missile battery battle' above Jerusalem and other cities.
Although some missiles appeared to breach Israeli defences, Prof Clarke claimed this could have been a deliberate decision by the IDF to 'let go' the missiles that weren't deemed a major threat.
Describing the Iron Dome and it's effectiveness, he told Sky News: 'It's really important to understand when we're trying to talk about how effectively the Iron Dome – Israel's defence system works.
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'What they do is they track incoming missiles and if they think that the missile is going to land in a place that doesn't matter they just let it go.
'There's no point in using a very expensive air defence missile against something that is going to fall into the middle of the desert.
'The whole of the Iron Dome system is built on a very sophisticated monitoring system and they work out which missiles they need to intercept and which missiles they just let go.
'And so when the Iranians claims 'lots of missiles have landed' some of them probably will have – but some of them will have probably landed in the middle of nowhere and the Israelis will have just let them go.'
He said ballistic missiles were 'much more predictable than cruise missiles', which weren't used last night.
Cruise missiles have the ability to be guided towards their target and were 'harder to predict' where they would land, Prof Clarke said.
'It may be programmed to dodge around and go on a decoy and turn back around and so on before it reaches it’s target.
‘So you don’t really know [where it will land] and you’ve got no choice but to shoot cruise missiles down if you can.
‘But ballistic missiles – the sort that the Iranians are using which are almost certainly variations of the Fateh-110 which they developed many years ago – only burn for maybe 30 or 40 seconds, and then they’re on pure ballistics.
‘So once the take-off has been detected – and they’re easy to detect on take-off because they’re slow and hot and have a very big signature.'
Israel's Iron Dome air defence system has been dubbed one of the best in the world, and according to its developer Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, is '90 per cent effective'.
The three-part, multi-billion pound Iron Dome system, developed by Israel with US backing after the 2006 Lebanon War, has been crucial in defending Israeli cities for over a decade and is credited with preventing serious damage or casualties.
Similar tactics have also been used by Russia to blast Ukraine's flurry of Western and Soviet-era surface-to-air systems.
The Jewish state has at least 10 missile batteries capable of intercepting enemy rockets and missiles scattered across the country.
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The device is made up of three main sections: a radar detection system, a computer to calculate the incoming rocket's trajectory, and a launcher that fires interceptors if the rocket is deemed likely to hit a built-up or strategic area.
Each Iron Dome battery consists of three to four launchers that can each carry up to 20 Tamir interceptor missiles.
Commodore Stephen Prest, a retired Royal Navy Commodore who has worked as part of a carrier battle group, believed Israel targeted missiles that posed a high-threat to Israeli civilians and military HQs.
But he told MailOnline: 'These are not trivial problems.
'Ballistic missiles has an up-and-over trajectory whereas cruise missiles fly like a small fast airplane.
'Ballistic missiles launch up like a space rocket, they will potentially exit the atmosphere and come back down. There will be some guidance once back in the atmosphere on getting back on to target.
'But it’s the speed they come down with that makes them much more difficult to target coming down.'
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Cmdr Prest suspected that Israel opted to take out the missiles that posed the biggest threat to civilian populations or military HQs.
He added: 'In general, that’s how air defence deals with something called threat evaluation and weapon allocation. You look at all potential threats coming in and priotise them and allocate the appropriate effector.
'You then consider where you think it likely the target and missiles are going to land. If you’re in a ship and have missiles coming in and going near where near the task force you wouldn't waste your munitions of those. You’d use those on the greatest threat – that's those missiles which are targeting the high-value targets like aircraft carriers.
'If you’re defending populated areas or military facility you care far less about the ones that aren’t part of this.'
The region is edging closer to all-out war that is already drawing in allies on both sides - with British jets used to counter Iran's strikes, which were fired in retaliation to attacks on the Islamic Republic's Hezbollah allies in Lebanon in recent days.
Reports suggest Israel, which has vowed to strike 'powerfully' in response to Iran , could go after the country's oil facilities.
However, a former head of Britain's Royal Navy this morning warned any such strike could lead to Iran becoming 'even more dangerous'.
Lord Alan West told MailOnline: 'Iran won’t be beaten by being bombed, she will just be wounded and more dangerous. They will just try and find to get back at them.'
Iran is the third biggest producer of crude oil in the OPEC group of oil-producing countries and is heavily reliant on its oil and gas exports to prop up its ailing economy amid years of sanctions.
Former Israeli Intelligence official and regional analyst Avi Melamed told MailOnline the Iranian strike was likely to 'provoke a significant counterstrike', warning that 'Israel's response this time will likely be broader and less restrained than it was in the wake of Iran's unprecedented direct strike in April.'
But Iran's armed forces joint chief of staff Gen. Mohammad Bagheri said this morning that the Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) was prepared both defensively and offensively to repeat its missile attack with 'multiplied intensity', should Israel seek retribution.
'If the Zionist regime, that has gone insane, is not contained by America and Europe and intends to continue such crimes or do anything against our sovereignty or territorial integrity, tonight's operation will be repeated with much higher magnitude and we will hit all their infrastructure,' he said.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also declared that Tehran had warned the US 'to withdraw from this matter and not to intervene'.
But the US has vowed to stand with its regional ally Israel, with national security adviser Jake Sullivan telling reporters at the White House: 'We have made clear that there will be consequences, severe consequences, for this attack, and we will work with Israel to make that the case.'
Meanwhile, Israel's ongoing military operations have continued uninterrupted - at least five airstrikes reportedly hit the southern suburbs of Beirut early this morning.
More than 1,000 people have been killed in Israeli strikes in Lebanon since September 17, while hundreds of thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes.
And Israeli strikes killed at least 32 people in southern Gaza overnight as the military launched ground operations in the hard-hit city of Khan Younis.
Israel has continued to strike what it says are militant targets across Gaza nearly a year after Hamas' October 7 attack ignited the war, even as attention has shifted to Lebanon and growing tensions with Iran.
Defence secretary John Healey visited Cyprus today as the British government steps up efforts for a potential evacuation of UK nationals in Lebanon as the crisis threatens to boil over.
Mr Healey confirmed British forces were involved in efforts to defend Israel from Iran's ballistic missile barrage as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer warned of the risk of a 'miscalculation"' after the escalation of violence in the region.
It is understood RAF jets were involved in the efforts to intercept the Iranian missiles targeted at Iran.
The operation was similar to the role carried out by the UK's forces when Iran launched a drone and cruise missile barrage at Israel in April, when RAF Typhoons were involved in the defensive effort.
In a statement on Tuesday night, Mr Healey confirmed "British forces have this evening played their part in attempts to prevent further escalation in the Middle East".
Hundreds of British troops have been deployed to Cyprus alongside RAF and Royal Navy assets in the region in preparation for a potential evacuation of British nationals from Lebanon following the launch of Israel's ground offensive.
On Wednesday, Mr Healey met Cypriot counterpart Vasilis Palmas for talks about the crisis.
Israel said it intercepted many of the missiles fired by Iran on Tuesday, while Tehran claimed most had hit their targets. There were no immediate reports of casualties.
In a Downing Street statement on the crisis, Sir Keir Starmer said he was "deeply concerned that the region is on the brink and I am deeply concerned about the risk of miscalculation".
He said that Iran, with proxies including Hezbollah in Lebanon, had "menaced the Middle East for far too long".
Цитата:
Fears UK and US could be dragged into Israel and Iran conflict in the Middle East: Experts say 'huge diplomatic pressure' could pull West into WW3
...
Britain and America could be dragged into a wider war between Israel and Iran, a defence chief has warned - as the globe teeters on the brink of World War Three.
US and British warships are already in the region, with one of America's most powerful aircraft carriers the USS Harry S Truman now steaming across the Atlantic to bolster the West's military muscle in the region.
It comes after Iran launched an unprecedented onslaught against Tel Aviv overnight which saw about 180 ballistic missiles being fired against Israel, plunging the Middle East into chaos.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned the Iranian leadership had 'made a big mistake' and he defiantly vowed it 'will pay' for its bombardment.
Meanwhile Iran threatened more 'crushing attacks' on Israel - while Iranian-backed militias warned American bases in Iraq would be targeted should the US join any action against Tehran.
And as the crisis threats to explode, with Israel continuing with its bombing against Lebannon today, Admiral Lord Alan West, the former head of the Royal Navy, feared the ratcheting up of military aggression was reaching a dangerous stage.
The veteran Labour peer told MailOnline: 'There's a huge amount of diplomatic pressure - the last thing we want is for a war between Israel and Iran because inevitably America would be involved because the USA is the 'Great Satan' and we're the little one and Iranians see us working alongside us, so it could inevitably see the UK getting pulled into this.'
Pictured are the British and American warships in the region that could aid Israel against Iran
Two American warships were last night used in the effort to defend Israel from Iran's bombardment, with the USS Bulkeley and USS Cole firing 'approximately a dozen interceptors against the incoming Iranian missiles', US officials confirmed.
America already has a number of major naval battle groups stationed in the region, with the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group in the Gulf of Oman, south of Iran, the USS Wasp amphibious assault group in the Mediterranean, as well as a number of Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers in the Med and Red Sea.
The USS Harry S Truman aircraft carrier is steaming across the Atlantic with Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Jason Dunham and USS Stout and guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg and is expected to arrive in the region soon.
While Britain has £1bn Type 45 warship HMS Duncan, which is touted as one of the most advanced air defence destroyers in the world, is currently in Cyprus - a key staging point for UK forces in the Middle East region.
The UK Ministry of Defence said two Typhoon jets and a tanker were involved in the operation on Tuesday night as Iran launched a missile barrage against Israel but 'due to the nature of this attack, they did not engage any targets'.
The bolstering of Western military hardware comes as the region edges closer to an all-out war that is drawing in allies on both sides - with British jets used to counter Iran's strikes, which were fired in retaliation to attacks on the Islamic Republic's Hezbollah allies in Lebanon in recent days.
Reports suggest Israel, which has vowed to 'make Iran pay', could go after the Islamic Republic's oil facilities.
Iran is the third biggest producer of crude oil in the OPEC group of oil-producing countries and is heavily reliant on its oil and gas exports to prop up its ailing economy amid years of sanctions.
…
Meanwhile, former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett this morning called for a decisive strike to destroy Iran's nuclear facilities.
'We must act now to destroy Iran's nuclear program, its central energy facilities, and to fatally cripple this terrorist regime,' Bennett wrote on X just hours after the attack on Israel on Tuesday.
'We have the justification. We have the tools. Now that Hezbollah and Hamas are paralysed, Iran stands exposed.'
Speaking at the opening of a cabinet meeting on Tuesday night, Mr Netanyahu said Iran 'does not understand' his country's 'determination to retaliate' against its enemies.
'They will understand. We will stand by the rule we established: whoever attacks us – we will attack'.
An Israeli official said the attack – a major escalation in the months-long conflict in the Middle East – signalled war had been declared on Israel.
'This attack will have consequences. We have plans, and we will operate at the place and time we decide,' added Rear-Adm Daniel Hagari, an Israeli military spokesman.
America, which was involved in shooting down the barrage, warned there will be 'severe consequences' for Iran, while Downing Street 'completely condemns' Tehran's actions and has called for de-escalation across the region.
In the wake of Iran's missile attack, President Joe Biden said last night the US remains 'fully' supportive of Israeli defense efforts.
Speaking just before he was set to receive a briefing on ongoing relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Helene, Biden said American troops had 'actively supported the defense of Israel' against Tehran's shock offensive.
…
'Based on what we know now, the attack appears to have been defeated and ineffective, and this is testament to Israeli military capability and the US military,' he said. 'It's also a testament to intensive planning between the United States and Israel to anticipate and defend against the brazen attack we expected.'
Responding on Tuesday to Iran's attack, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the UK 'stands with Israel' and recognises its right to self-defence.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed it had launched the missiles in retaliation for recent attacks that killed the leaders of the Hezbollah and Hamas terror groups, as well as a top Iranian commander.
But speaking from Downing Street Sir Keir lashed out at Iran's bombardment of Israel, saying he was 'deeply concerned that the region is on the brink'.
'We stand with Israel and we recognise her right to self-defence in the face of this aggression,' said the PM, who had been on the phone with Netanyahu when the strikes began.
Calling on Iran to stop its attacks, the PM added: 'Together with its proxies like Hezbollah, Iran has menaced the Middle East for far too long, chaos and destruction brought not just to Israel, but to the people they live amongst in Lebanon and beyond.
'Make no mistake, Britain stands full square against such violence. We support Israel's reasonable demand for the security of its people.'
Defence Secretary John Healey, who is Cyprus to visit personnel based on the island, said British forces had 'played their part in attempts to prevent further escalation', without giving more details.
He added: 'The UK stands fully behind Israel's right to defend its country and its people against threats.'
Former Tory Armed Forces Minister said Britain must remain staunchly behind its allies in Israel.
He told MailOnline: 'We should stand by Isreal, the only democracy in the Middle East, in her hour of need.'
In a statement, the MoD said: 'Last night two Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jets and a Voyager air-to-air refuelling tanker played their part in attempts to prevent further escalation in the Middle East, demonstrating the UK's unwavering commitment to Israel's security.
'Due to the nature of this attack, they did not engage any targets, but they played an important part in wider deterrence and efforts to prevent further escalation.
'The Defence Secretary has thanked our personnel involved in the response.'
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С сожалением и понятными пожеланиями, Dimitriy.
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