
Israel Embassy donates relief supplies to wildfire victims
The Embassy of Israel in South Korea has donated relief supplies to support local residents affected by the devastating wildfires in the Yeongnam region, said the Israeli Embassy in Seoul on Friday.
The assistance, provided through MASHAV, Israel's official aid agency, aims to help displaced residents in Andong recover from the disaster.
Sharing a press statement with The Korea Herald, the embassy said that relief supplies coordinated through the Korean Red Cross will be used for disaster recovery efforts in Andong, a city that shares a sister-city relationship with Holon, Israel.
According to the embassy, the partnership has fostered strong cultural ties, with Andong Park established in Holon in 2002 and Holon Park inaugurated in Andong in the same year.
The cities formalized their friendship agreement in 2004.
'We extend our heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathy to the victims' families and residents affected by the unprecedented wildfires,' said Israeli Ambassador to Korea Rafael Harpaz.
Israel stands in solidarity with the Korean people during this challenging time, said Harpaz.
'We commend the bravery and tireless efforts of the firefighters and emergency responders working to contain the fires and protect lives and property,' added the ambassador.

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Korea Herald
7 hours ago
- Korea Herald
Israel attacks Iran's nuclear sites and its top military leaders. Iran retaliates with drones
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Countries in the region condemned Israel's attack, while leaders around the globe called for immediate deescalation from both sides. Israel's military said about 200 aircraft were involved in the initial attack on about 100 targets. Two security officials said the country's Mossad spy agency was also able to position explosive drones inside Iran ahead of time and then activate them to target missile launchers at an Iranian base near Tehran. They said Israel had also smuggled precision weapons into central Iran as well as strike systems on vehicles, which were activated as the attack began to hit Iranian air defenses. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the highly secretive missions and it was not possible to independently confirm their claims. There was no official comment. The Israeli attack hit several sites, including Iran's main nuclear enrichment facility at Natanz, where black smoke could be seen rising into the air. Later in the morning, Israel said it had also destroyed dozens of radar installations and surface-to-air missile launchers in western Iran. Israel military spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said Israel has 'significantly damaged' Natanz and that the operation was 'still in the beginning.' Among those killed were three of Iran's top military leaders, one who oversaw the entire armed forces, Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, one who led the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard , Gen. Hossein Salami, and another who ran the Guard's ballistic missile program, Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh. Iran confirmed all three deaths, which were a significant blow to Tehran's governing theocracy and will complicate efforts to retaliate against Israel. Khamenei said other top military officials and scientists were also killed. In its first response, Iran fired more than 100 drones at Israel. Israel said the drones were being intercepted outside its airspace, and it was not immediately clear whether any got through. 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The Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah issued a statement that offered condolences and condemned the attack, but did not threaten to join Iran in its retaliation. Hezbollah's latest war with Israel — which killed much of the group's senior leadership — ended with a US-brokered ceasefire in November. Netanyahu expressed hope the attacks would trigger the downfall of Iran's theocracy, saying his message to the Iranian people was that the fight was not with them, but with the 'brutal dictatorship that has oppressed you for 46 years.' 'I believe that the day of your liberation is near,' he said. In addition to targeting nuclear and military sites, Israel aimed its attacks at officials leading Iran's nuclear program and its ballistic missile arsenal. The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that an Israeli strike hit Iran's uranium enrichment facility at Natanz and said it was closely monitoring radiation levels. The strike on Iran pushed the Israeli military to its limits, requiring the use of aging air-to-air refuelers to get its fighter jets close enough to attack. It wasn't immediately clear if Israeli jets entered Iranian airspace or just fired so-called 'standoff missiles' over another country. People in Iraq heard fighter jets overhead at the time of the attack. The potential for an attack had been apparent for weeks as angst built over Iran's nuclear program. Once the attacks were underway, the US Embassy in Jerusalem issued an alert telling American government workers and their families to shelter in place until further notice. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Israel took 'unilateral action against Iran' and that Israel advised the US that it believed the strikes were necessary for its self-defense. 'We are not involved in strikes against Iran, and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region,' Rubio said in a statement released by the White House. Trump is scheduled to attend a meeting of his National Security Council on Friday in the White House Situation Room. Israel has long been determined to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, a concern laid bare on Thursday when the Board of Governors at the International Atomic Energy Agency for the first time in 20 years censured Iran over its refusal to work with its inspectors. Iran immediately announced it would establish a third enrichment site and install more advanced centrifuges. Even so, there are multiple assessments on how many nuclear weapons Iran could conceivably build, should it choose to do so. Iran would need months to assemble, test and field any weapon, which it so far has said it has no desire to do. US intelligence agencies also assess Iran does not have a weapons program at this time. 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Korea Herald
12 hours ago
- Korea Herald
US steel tariffs on home appliances spark concerns for Samsung, LG
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Korea Herald
13 hours ago
- Korea Herald
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