In the early hours of Wednesday, Hezbollah asserted that it had struck an Israeli military installation with rockets in the vicinity of Shomera, situated along the Israel-Lebanon border. CNN has sought comments from the Israeli military, which stated it “cannot confirm at this moment” but will provide updates as more information becomes available. Sirens echoed across northern Israel throughout the night, yet there have been no further details regarding any interceptions or impacts. Earlier, the Israeli military indicated that “a projectile was identified crossing from Lebanon, landing in an uninhabited area in central Israel.”
According to a senior US official, the White House does not believe that Israel has reached a conclusion regarding its response to Iran’s unprecedented missile strike. High-ranking officials from the Biden administration and their Iran attack Israel counterparts have been in continuous communication in recent days and weeks, preparing for a potential Iranian counterattack in retaliation for assaults on prominent Hamas and Hezbollah targets. Nearly twelve hours after the attack occurred, US officials had not received comprehensive and decisive information about what to anticipate.
During a televised debate on Tuesday evening, the two candidates vying to become the next US vice president exchanged barbs over which party would be better equipped to manage the escalating conflict in the Middle East. Democratic Minnesota Governor Tim Walz refrained from directly addressing whether he would advocate for a preemptive strike by Israel on Iran if he were the final decision-maker in the Situation Room. However, he did express his support for continuing to align with Iran attack Israel proxies. Conversely, Republican Senator JD Vance of Ohio emphasized that the decision rests with Israel, considering “what they think they need to do to ensure their national security.”
The candidates also deliberated on former President Donald Trump’s 2018 decision to withdraw the United States from the Iran nuclear accord established during Barack Obama’s administration, which had curtailed Iran’s uranium enrichment to around 4%. In contrast, enriching uranium to approximately 90% is necessary for developing nuclear weapons. Vance countered claims by stating that Trump had made the world “more secure” and fostered “peace through strength.” He sidestepped the moderator’s inquiry regarding whether the former president erred in exiting the agreement.
In an analysis, CNN’s Peter Bergen asserted that Vance’s claim about Trump enhancing global security is “utterly preposterous.” He referenced comments from Trump’s former Director of National Intelligence, Dan Coats, a Republican senator, who testified before a Congressional committee in 2019 that the Obama-negotiated nuclear deal was effective.