PM: We will not hesitate to respond in self-defence
24 soldiers die in blast on Israelis
ISRAEL has suffered its worst day of military losses in the Hamas conflict after 24 soldiers were killed, officials revealed yesterday.
Some 21 of them died after a single strike, when a rocketpropelled grenade hit a tank near two buildings where personnel had been gathered.
The devastating explosion took place in central Gaza, close to the kibbutz of Kissufim on the Israeli side of the border on Monday. President Isaac Herzog wrote on X that it had been “unbearably difficult” learning about the extent of the death toll.
Leaflets
He said: “On behalf of the entire nation, I console the families and pray for the healing of the wounded.”
But as the death toll continued to rise on both sides, efforts were once again focused on finding the remaining Israeli hostages in the war-torn strip.
In the southern city of Rafah, where one million Palestinians are now taking shelter, Israeli planes dropped thousands of leaflets showing photos of 33 hostages.
The leaflets urged the displaced to make contact with the Israeli military if they had any information. Instructions said: “Do you want to return home? Please make the call if you recognise one of them.”
RISHI Sunak has admitted he cannot rule out British forces carrying out “sustained” strikes on Houthi rebels after a second bombing blitz in 10 days.
The Prime Minister declared “we are not seeking a confrontation” but insisted he would not stand by as the militants disrupted global trade.
The Daily Express understands British fighter jets destroyed eight missile launchers clustered into two batteries during the mission on Monday.
Sources said three launchers were targeted at one location, near Sanaa airfield, while five more were hit at another site near the Yemeni capital.
American warplanes, destroyers and a submarine also joined the operation in a bid to restore security in the Red Sea.
The US struck an underground storage facility used by the Houthis, an official said. The storage site was assessed to have “more advanced conventional weapons”, including missiles and one-way attack drones.
American forces also fired at air defence and radar systems. Mr Sunak said: “If necessary, the United Kingdom will not hesitate to respond again in self-defence. We cannot allow these attacks to go unchallenged.
“No decision has been taken to embark on
Fighting talk...Rishi Sunak
a sustained campaign.These are limited strikes in response to threats.” Mohammed Ali-al Houthi, the head of Yemen’s Houthi supreme revolutionary committee, warned the latest strikes would only encourage militants to confront the West more.
The Houthis have been targeting ships they claim are linked to Israel in response to the war with Hamas. But the UK and allies say the attacks are indiscriminate and have been aimed at Royal Navy and allied warships. And Mr Sunak revealed Houthi rebels would be sanctioned in the coming days to restrict their ability to buy weapons. Foreign
Secretary David Cameron will be travelling to the region amid plans to step up the UK’s “diplomatic engagement” in countries surrounding the Red Sea.
He said: “We must end the illegal flow of arms to the Houthi militia.”
Sir Michael Graydon, a former head of the RAF, believes the UK air strikes will not lead to a wider regional conflict.
He said: “I don’t think it will escalate into war, unless Iran deems that the war is in their interests and I cannot see it being in their interest. The United States is immensely powerful and is capable of doing a huge amount of damage if they deemed it necessary in Iran.
“If Iran feels it wants to continue to take the risks, then it will continue. But if Iran started backing away, then the Houthis are going to run out of capability, probably quite quickly.”