Cease-fire status is unclear after Israel reports continued missiles from Iran. Follow live updates.
.cls-1{clip-path:url(#clippath);}.cls-2,.cls-3{fill:none;}.cls-2,.cls-3,.cls-4{stroke-width:0px;}.cls-5{clip-path:url(#clippath-1);}.cls-3{clip-rule:evenodd;}
Link copied
By the Associated Press
Residents evacuated the impacted buildings, carrying belongings in bags and stuffed suitcases.
Neighbors and family members embraced while trying to figure out where to go next.
More than 9,000 Israelis have been displaced from their homes since the war with Iran began, according to the Prime Minister's Office.
Advertisement
Yehezkiel Cheri said he was in a synagogue for morning prayers Tuesday when the first sirens went off.
Get Starting Point
A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday.
Enter Email
Sign Up
As he made his way into his apartment building in between waves of missiles, he felt a huge explosion.
'I saw fire in front of me, and I ran into the apartment,' he said.
'I don't think we need to continue this war. It's a shame. These are souls of God, and we need to protect each one, from every country, everyone needs to care for each person,' he said.
Israeli airspace reopens — 1:30 a.m.
.cls-1{clip-path:url(#clippath);}.cls-2,.cls-3{fill:none;}.cls-2,.cls-3,.cls-4{stroke-width:0px;}.cls-5{clip-path:url(#clippath-1);}.cls-3{clip-rule:evenodd;}
Link copied
By the Associated Press
Israel's Airports Authority said the country's airspace has reopened for emergency flights after closing earlier due to an hourslong barrage of missiles from Iran.
Death toll rises to 4 in Beersheba — 1:21 a.m.
.cls-1{clip-path:url(#clippath);}.cls-2,.cls-3{fill:none;}.cls-2,.cls-3,.cls-4{stroke-width:0px;}.cls-5{clip-path:url(#clippath-1);}.cls-3{clip-rule:evenodd;}
Link copied
By the Associated Press
Israeli firefighters said they retrieved four bodies from a building hit by an Iranian missile in the city of Beersheba.
Advertisement
The direct hit in the largest city in southern Israel comes just days after the city's hospital sustained significant damage in a missile strike.
The search and rescue team said they retrieved four bodies from one building in Beersheba and were searching for more.
Israel closes its airspace — 1:02 a.m.
.cls-1{clip-path:url(#clippath);}.cls-2,.cls-3{fill:none;}.cls-2,.cls-3,.cls-4{stroke-width:0px;}.cls-5{clip-path:url(#clippath-1);}.cls-3{clip-rule:evenodd;}
Link copied
By the Associated Press
The Israel Airports Authority said the barrages from Iran forced them to close the skies to all passenger planes, including emergency flights that were expected to land and depart on Tuesday.
Some flights were forced to circle over the Mediterranean Sea, according to Israeli media.
Israel's airports have been closed since the war with Iran began, but a handful of emergency flights had started arriving and departing over the past few days.
Israeli firefighters rescue children trapped in rubble — 12:37 a.m.
.cls-1{clip-path:url(#clippath);}.cls-2,.cls-3{fill:none;}.cls-2,.cls-3,.cls-4{stroke-width:0px;}.cls-5{clip-path:url(#clippath-1);}.cls-3{clip-rule:evenodd;}
Link copied
By the Associated Press
Israel warned of another wave of incoming missiles 20 minutes after the ceasefire was supposed to come into effect.
Iran state television announces ceasefire has begun — 12:20
.cls-1{clip-path:url(#clippath);}.cls-2,.cls-3{fill:none;}.cls-2,.cls-3,.cls-4{stroke-width:0px;}.cls-5{clip-path:url(#clippath-1);}.cls-3{clip-rule:evenodd;}
Link copied
By the Associated Press
Iranian state television reported Tuesday that a cease-fire had begun in its war with Israel, even as Israel warned the public of a new missile barrage launched from Iran.
It wasn't immediately possible to reconcile the messages from Iran and Israel on the 12th day of their war.
Iranian state television announced the ceasefire in a graphic on screen, not immediately acknowledging the new missile barrage coming after the deadline set by President Donald Trump in his earlier ceasefire announcement.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
17 minutes ago
- USA Today
As Netanyahu expands Gaza war, some reservists grow more disillusioned
JERUSALEM, Aug 19 (Reuters) - As Israel seeks to expand its offensive in Gaza, a measure of how the country's mood has changed in the nearly two-year-old conflict is the discontent evident among some reservists being called up to serve once again. Shortly after the October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel by Palestinian militant group Hamas, Israelis dropped everything -- honeymoons, studies and new lives abroad -- to rush home and fight. Now, some voice disillusionment with political leaders sending them back into battle, as the military prepares to take control of Gaza City, the enclave's biggest urban centre. According to a study conducted by Agam Labs at the Hebrew University which measured sentiment about the new campaign among more than 300 people serving in the current war, 25.7% of reservists said their motivation had decreased significantly compared with the start of the campaign. Another 10% said their motivation slightly decreased. Asked to describe their feelings about the campaign, the biggest group -- 47% -- of responders expressed negative emotions towards the government and its handling of the war and hostage negotiations. In March, before the latest offensive was announced, the Israeli news outlet Ynet reported that the amount of reservists reporting for duty was 30 percent below the number requested by military commanders. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to destroy Hamas after it attacked Israel in Oct. 7, 2023 in the bloodiest single day for Jews since the Holocaust, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. But the war has dragged on, with Hamas still putting up a fight and Israelis condemning their prime minister for failing to reach a deal with the militant group to win the release of hostages despite many mediation efforts. 'THIS WAR IS ENTIRELY POLITICAL' Reservists were among thousands of Israelis who took part in a nationwide strike on Sunday, one of the biggest protests in support of families of hostages, calling on Netanyahu to reach an agreement with Hamas to end the war and release the remaining captives. One of those angry protesters was Roni Zehavi, a reservist pilot who stopped serving out of principle after more than 200 days of service when the last ceasefire fell through. He said that when reservists were enlisted, they did everything required without saying a word. But then questions such as "where is this going?" started to pop up, he recalled. Reservists accused the government - the most far-right administration in Israel's history -- of perpetuating the war for political reasons. "This war is entirely political, it has no goal except to keep Benjamin Netanyahu as prime minister," he told Reuters. "He is willing to do everything necessary, to sacrifice the hostages, fallen soldiers, dead citizens - to do what he needs so that he and his wife will stay in power. It's the tragedy of the state of Israel and it's the reality". Asked for comment about the disenchantment voiced by some reservists, the Israeli military said it sees great importance in the reserve service and each case of absence is examined. "In this challenging security reality, the contribution of the reservists is essential to the success of missions and to maintaining the security of the country," it said. The prime minister's office was not immediately available for comment. Netanyahu has so far resisted calls to establish a state inquiry - in which he could be implicated - into the security failures of the October 7 attack. He has said such an investigation should not be launched as long as the war is still under way. Some of his far-right coalition partners have threatened to bring down the government should the war end without meeting all its stated goals. When Israel called up 360,000 reservists after the October 7 attack, the largest such compulsory mobilisation since the 1973 Yom Kippur War, it received an enthusiastic response. The mood among some reservists appears different now. 'I will not be part of a system that knows that it will kill the hostages. I'm just not prepared to take that. And I really fear that, to the point where it keeps me up at night," one combat medic told Reuters. He asked not to be identified as he was not authorized to speak. According to Israel's Channel 12, the military plans to call up 250,000 reservists for the Gaza City offensive. Israel has lost 898 soldiers and thousands have been wounded in the Gaza war, the country's longest conflict since the 1948 war that accompanied its creation. Its military response to the Hamas attack has killed over 61,000 people in Gaza, including many children, according to Gaza health authorities. 'LACK OF VISION' Military service is mandatory in Israel, a small nation of fewer than 10 million people, but it relies heavily on reservists in times of crisis. Reserve duty is technically mandatory, though penalties for evasion often depend on the willingness of the direct commander to enforce punishment. Reuters interviewed 10 Israeli reservists for this story. Like many other reservists, special forces Sergeant Major A. Kalker concluded that Israel's military and political leadership has failed to formulate a sound day-after plan for the war. "There's a lack of vision, both in the political and the senior military leadership, a real lack of vision," he said, but added that shouldn't amount to refusing to serve. "Bibi (Netanyahu) is the king of not making decisions … like treading water." Reservist Brigadier General Roi Alkabetz told Reuters that the military and Israel's Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir had transitioned to using the reservists in a "measured way", because Zamir understood the hardship for reservists and had put much of the hard work on soldiers in mandatory service. "He's doing it in a logical way," Alkabetz said. "The reservists will come." (Writing by Michael Georgy, Editing by William Maclean)
NBC News
18 minutes ago
- NBC News
Israel approves plan for Gaza City takeover and call-up of 60,000 reservists
Israel has approved a plan for the takeover of Gaza City that includes calling up 60,000 reservists for its expanded military operation in the besieged Palestinian enclave. The U.S. ally appeared to be pushing ahead with a new phase of its war despite international opposition — and in the face of a renewed push for a ceasefire. Defense Minister Israel Katz has authorized the plans for the major new operation, a spokesperson for the ministry confirmed to NBC News on Wednesday. It will also see an additional 20,000 reservists have their service extended, the Israeli military said. The assault is expected to force thousands of Palestinians in northern Gaza to the south of the strip, which is suffering an intensifying hunger crisis under Israel's military offensive and aid restrictions. Scores of people have been killed by starvation in recent weeks, including dozens of children, according to the Palestinian health ministry in the enclave. Katz, who replaced Yoav Gallant as defense minister last year, was on Tuesday holding a discussion to approve "strike plans in Gaza" with Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and other senior defense officials, the defense ministry had said. The announcement of the expanded military operation comes after Israel appeared to shrug off announcements that Hamas had agreed to the latest proposal from Arab mediators for a ceasefire deal in Gaza that would free hostages who remain held in the enclave. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty told NBC News on Tuesday that the deal was based on a proposal by President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, for a 60-day ceasefire, during which some of the remaining 50 hostages, both alive and dead, would be released with plans to negotiate a lasting ceasefire and the return of the rest. 'The ball is now in Israel's court,' he said, adding: 'We would like a positive response from them as soon as possible in order to deal with the disastrous situation in Gaza, especially the starvation and the killing of civilians.' Asked about the development, a spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office referred NBC News to a statement the Israeli leader made Monday suggesting he was determined to push ahead with the plan to assume full control of Gaza City and noting that Hamas appeared to be 'under immense pressure.' Asked if they could confirm reports that Israel would provide a response to international mediators on the proposal by Friday, the spokesperson said 'no' and did not provide further clarification. New satellite imagery suggests that a number of people have already begun to flee the area of Gaza City in recent days ahead of Israel's advance, with the country's plan to push civilians living in the area into the enclave's south condemned by rights groups. Imagery captured on August 16 shows sites just south of Gaza City are seemingly barren, having been packed with what appear to be tent camps just days before, on August 9. Israel launched its offensive in Gaza following the Hamas-led attacks on Oct. 7, 2023, in which some 1,200 people were killed and around 250 taken hostage, marking a major escalation in a decadeslong conflict. Since then, more than 62,000 people have been killed in Gaza, including thousands of children, according to the Palestinian health ministry in the enclave, with much of the territory destroyed.
NBC News
18 minutes ago
- NBC News
Bus crash kills more than 70 Afghans deported from Iran, including 17 children
PESHAWAR, Pakistan — At least 75 people, including 17 children, have been killed in Afghanistan in a traffic accident involving a bus carrying migrants who were deported from Iran, officials said Wednesday. The bus was traveling to the Afghan capital of Kabul from neighboring Iran late Tuesday when it collided with a motorbike and another vehicle in the western province of Herat near the Iranian border, according to senior Afghan government official Ahmadullah Muttaqi. 'The car was carrying fuel and it caught fire after a head-on collision with the bus, fully loaded with passengers,' he said. 'The bus also caught fire and the majority of people on the bus died of burn injuries.' All 73 Afghan migrants on the bus, 17 of them children, were killed along with two people from the other vehicles. Two others were injured, Muttaqi said. The migrants are among hundreds of thousands of Afghans who have returned in recent months from Iran and Pakistan, both of which announced a crackdown in October 2023 on people they said were living there illegally. There are fears that Afghanistan could be further destabilized by the mass expulsions, which have been criticized by international rights groups as well as Afghanistan's ruling Taliban as a violation of international norms and humanitarian principles. Many of those returning have lived outside Afghanistan for decades and are able to bring only what they can carry. 'These Afghan refugees were returning home after spending a long time in Iran, but they could not reach their destination as their bus met with a tragic accident,' Muttaqi said. Traffic accidents are common in Afghanistan, where decades of war have left roads in disrepair and traffic laws are poorly enforced. Since the 1970s, millions of people have fled Afghanistan for Iran and Pakistan, especially during the Soviet invasion in 1979 and the Taliban's return to power in 2021. Afghan migrants in both countries say they have faced systemic discrimination and even violence. U.N. human rights officials said last week that over 2.2 million people had returned to Afghanistan from Iran and Pakistan since the start of the year, including more than 1.8 million from Iran and almost 400,000 from Pakistan. Authorities in both countries deny they are targeting Afghans specifically. Experts say many of the Afghan migrants were either forcibly deported or compelled to return in the face of threats, harassment and intimidation. Iran had told undocumented Afghans to leave the country by July 6, but departures accelerated amid a 12-day conflict in June between Iran and Israel, during which some Iranians accused Afghan migrants of espionage. The deadline has since been extended to Sept. 6. The U.N. says the surge in the number of people returning to Afghanistan has created a 'multi-layered human rights crisis' and that some have been tortured and threatened by the Taliban because of their identity or personal history. It says women and girls face an even higher risk of persecution in Afghanistan, where they are denied access to education past the sixth grade. Taliban officials say people returning to Afghanistan are not being mistreated and that they receive cash, food, health care and other support upon their arrival. Afghanistan is already struggling to provide basic services to its population of more than 40 million, more than half of which relies on humanitarian assistance even as U.S. and other international funding is cut. Thousands of Afghans in the United States are also facing deportation after a federal appeals court last month allowed the Trump administration to remove protections enabling them to live and work in the U.S. temporarily. Trump administration officials said Afghans in the U.S. no longer needed protected status because the situation in their home country is getting better.
