October 7 hostage families speak out, blame Iran

Husseini played a crucial role in weapon transfers between Iran and Hezbollah and was also a member of the Jihad council, Hezbollah's senior military leadership council, said the Israeli military.

He is the latest target in an airstrike against the group's top leadership within Iran’s most powerful proxy, positioned on Israel’s northern border and designated as a terrorist organization by countries such as the US and UK.

The headquarters which was targeted includes Hezbollah's Research and Development Unit, which is responsible for manufacturing precision-guided missiles and managing the storage and transportation of weapons in Lebanon.

“In his role, Husseini was responsible for the budgeting and logistical management of Hezbollah's most sensitive projects, including the organization's war plans and other special operations, such as coordinating terrorist attacks against the State of Israel from Lebanon and Syria,” the IDF said.

The announcement of the latest killing comes as Israel expanded its ground operations into southern Lebanon on Monday.

While Israel tries to allow the safe return of the 63,000 Israelis displaced since October 8 last year, the 146th Division began “limited, localized, targeted operational activities against Hezbollah terror targets and infrastructure in southwestern Lebanon”, the military said, adding that it “follows a year of defensive activities conducted by the 146th Division on Israel's northwestern border with Lebanon”.

Hezbollah began almost daily bombardments into Israel the day after Iran-backed Hamas invaded Israel on October 7, in allegiance with the group. Since then, tens of thousands of civilians on both sides of the border have been displaced, and dozens killed. Around 9,000 projectiles have been launched at Israel since the fighting broke out.

The 146th Division is the first reserve division to operate in southern Lebanon as part of the ongoing operations against Hezbollah, so far, troops all being those in active duty.

The soldiers are operating alongside the 213th Artillery Brigade and additional forces now as the conflict continues to escalate from both ground and air.

On Tuesday, Israel's elite Golani brigade took control of a combat compound in southern Lebanon, overlooking border communities in northern Israel.

The site in the Maroun el Ras area included a residential building and an olive grove, where a launcher, loaded and ready to fire was found, according to the military.

"Additionally, underground infrastructure, terrorist hideouts, living quarters, and staging areas used by Hezbollah terrorists were identified. Inside the residential building, a staging area and a stockpile of weapons were located and destroyed, including guns, camouflage nets, military vests, and anti-tank missiles, as well as launchers hidden in the kitchen," the IDF statement said.

Hezbollah, which currently does not have a general secretary, announced that it will continue to resist Israel.

As the U.S. continues its efforts to mediate the now multi-front proxy war ignited by Hamas’ invasion, with Iran’s proxies in Iraq, Yemen, and Syria also targeting Israel, CIA chief William Burns told CBS News that while US intelligence assesses that neither Israel nor Iran seeks an “all-out conflict,” the risk of miscalculation remains high.

He warned: “We face the very real danger of a further regional escalation of conflict” while Israel is “weighing very carefully” how it will respond to last week’s attack from Iran, which saw 181 ballistic missiles rain down on the country, the second direct strike since the shadow war between the archenemies began decades ago.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told state media: "Our dialogue continues in regards to the developments in the region to prevent the shameless crimes of the Zionist regime (Israel) in Lebanon in continuation of the crimes in Gaza.

“Starting today I'll start a trip to the region, to Riyadh and other capitals in the region and we will strive to have a collective movement from the countries of the region... to stop the brutal attacks in Lebanon."

Meanwhile, the deputy leader of Hezbollah, Naim Qassem, said on Tuesday that the group had moved beyond "painful blows" inflicted by Israel after weeks of high-level assassinations which reached leader Hassan Nasrallah, and strikes against key military targets.

Speaking on Press TV, he said the group was unharmed, the senior figures killed only "from the older generation" of founding fathers, suggesting they will be easily replaced by the next generation. A new secretary general will be elected in due course, he said.

In spite of the killings of swathes of the leadership, "there is no empty position," he said. "There is no fear that the work continues."

Last month, over 1,500 operatives were taken out of action by a movie-like plot, not acknowledged by Israel, which, over two days saw pagers and walkie-talkies belonging to the group, explode across Lebanon.

According to the semi-official ISNA media outlet, Araghchi will discuss regional issues and work to halt Israel's operations in Gaza and Lebanon during his trip.

"Our dialogue continues regarding the developments in the region to prevent the shameless crimes of the Zionist regime in Lebanon, in continuation of the crimes in Gaza," Araghchi said in a video broadcast by state media.

He further added, "Starting today, I'll begin a trip to the region, to Riyadh and other capitals, and we will strive for a collective movement from the countries of the region... to stop the brutal attacks in Lebanon."

Meanwhile, Tasnim, a media outlet affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guards, sharply criticized Arab leaders on Tuesday for their inaction without directly mentioning Araghchi’s visit to Saudi Arabia.

The outlet accused Arab leaders in the Persian Gulf region of having "merely been spectators to the Zionists' brutality in Gaza" over the past year, claiming that they not only refrained from taking a decisive stance against Israel's aggression but also, either openly or covertly, lent support to the regime and its actions.

Most Persian Gulf Arab states, like Iran, are major energy exporters and have conveyed a neutrality on the Iran-Israel conflict to Tehran, sources told Reuters last week.

Araghchi’s diplomatic efforts come shortly after his visits to Lebanon and Syria, two Arab states more aligned with Tehran.

During his first official visit to Lebanon, Araghchi emphasized Iran’s steadfast support for Hezbollah, declaring that his presence in Beirut, despite ongoing bombings, underscored this commitment. "Iran will always stand with the people of Lebanon," he tweeted.

Last Friday, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei led prayers for the first time in five years, reinforcing a message he has focused on recently: the unity of Muslim countries against the presence of the US and other Western powers in the region. Khamenei called for solidarity, stating, “We have to tighten the belt of defense... from Afghanistan to Yemen, Iran to Gaza and Lebanon, in all Islamic countries. That’s the first issue I wanted to discuss.”

This message echoed his earlier speech in September during the 38th Islamic Unity Conference, where he reiterated his long-standing vision: "With the formation of an Islamic Ummah, Muslims can, through their internal strength, remove the malignant cancer of the Zionist regime from Palestine and eliminate the oppressive influence, domination, and interference of the United States in the region."

Reports of explosions in Isfahan in the early hours of Tuesday alarmed residents, with social media users speculating that Israel, amid heightened tensions, may have launched an attack on Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard's Saheb al-Zaman Headquarters in Isfahan issued a statement attributing the explosion heard at dawn on Tuesday to a defense system test conducted in the area.

“The sound of the explosion heard at midnight was due to seeing a luminous object and the test activity of the defense system,” the Public Relations Department of the Saheb al-Zaman Headquarters said in a statement on Tuesday.

An earlier statement from the Khatam al-Anbiya Air Defense Base similarily dismissed reports of an explosion, stating that the sounds heard in the city were due to the "testing of a new defense system."

Explosions have previously stirred concern in Isfahan; in mid-August, similar reports surfaced but were ultimately attributed to "training activities" by local authorities.

Isfahan, housing key nuclear facilities including the Natanz uranium enrichment complex, is a strategic site for Tehran and has been the target of suspected Israeli sabotage operations in the past.

In April, Israel reportedly destroyed part of an S-300 long-range air defense system in the city in response to Iran's earlier missile and drone barrage against Israel. The incident was viewed as part of an ongoing shadow war between the two nations, with Isfahan's military significance making it a focal point of tensions.

Following a series of highly effective Israeli operations against Iran's primary proxy, Hezbollah—which culminated in the assassination of its leader, Hassan Nasrallah—the Islamic Republic retaliated with a massive missile barrage against Israel on October 1. This marked the second Iranian missile strike since April.

Since then, anticipation has grown around an imminent Israeli response, with military analysts debating the scale and targets of potential retaliation.

Although strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities remain a possibility despite the challenges involved, many experts argue that Israel is more likely to focus on crippling critical energy, economic, and military infrastructure for a broader strategic impact.

Abbas Araghchi spoke at a gathering marking the October 7 anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel, where Iranian officials lauded the assault as a major achievement by the so-called "Resistance axis," a network of regional militant groups backed by Iran.

"We recommend the Zionist regime (Israel) not to test the resolve of the Islamic Republic. If any attack against our country takes place, our response will be more powerful," Araghchi said in a televised speech.

After a series of devastating Israeli operations against Iran’s main proxy group, the Lebanese Hezbollah and the killing of its leader Hassan Nasrallah, the Islamic Republic launched a large missile barrage against Israel on October 1. This was the second Iranian missile attack since April, but like the earlier operation, it inflicted little damage. The Israeli government immediately vowed a punishing retaliation, but so far, no attack has taken place.

Echoing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Araghchi reaffirmed that Tehran “stands fully behind the Resistance, with its full strength and support.”

However, beyond its stockpile of hundreds of ballistic missiles, Iran has limited military capacity to effectively challenge Israel, which boasts far more advanced military and weapons systems. Despite launching around 300 ballistic missiles, along with drones and cruise missiles, in two large-scale attacks, Iran has achieved little success. Most of the projectiles have been intercepted by Israeli and allied anti-air defenses, rendering the assaults largely ineffective.

However, Araghchi warned that “Any attack by the Zionist regime [Israel] on Iran's infrastructure will be met with a stronger response.” He also stated “Our enemies know which targets within the Zionist regime are within our reach. They have witnessed firsthand the power of our missiles.”

The scope and scale of a potential Israeli attack on Iran are subjects of intense debate among military experts and analysts. While strikes on some of Iran’s nuclear facilities remain a possibility, most experts believe Israel would more likely focus on key energy, economic, and military targets.

Scrutiny of the long-overlooked historical chapter was revived when former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett last week urged Israel to act decisively against Iran, saying the Islamic Republic’s proxies Hamas and Hezbollah have been weakened.

"Israel now has its greatest opportunity in the last 50 years to change the face of the Middle East," Bennett posted on X on October 2, emphasizing the need for action following Iran’s missile attack on Israel the previous day.

Bennett's comments appear to reference events extending back to the Pahlavi era, coinciding with the 50-year anniversary of the 1973 Yom Kippur War.

Iranian dailies Entekhab and Shahr-e khabar said Bennett was highlighting a rift between Israel and Iran's leadership even prior to the 1979 revolution.

Iran’s historical relationship with Israel

Under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, Iran maintained close ties with Israel, becoming the second Muslim-majority nation to recognize the Jewish state.

Despite opposition from some political figures, relations between Iran and Israel were strengthened through arms deals and security cooperation, with Israel providing military assistance in exchange for Iranian oil.

The Islamic Republic largely upended that relationship, becoming one of Israel's most vocal adversaries.

Iran's leadership, particularly Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, has repeatedly vowed Israel’s destruction, with state-sponsored events promoting Holocaust denial further inflaming tensions.

However the article on Entekhab's website on Monday noted that ties between Iran and Israel began to deteriorate after the 1973 Yom Kippur War in October 1973.

“The Shah sought more independence in foreign policy, diversifying arms purchases and pursuing stronger ties with other global powers, including the Soviet Union," Entekhab wrote on Monday.

"During the war, the Shah allowed Soviet planes to pass through Iranian airspace to deliver military supplies to Egypt, and Iran provided financial and oil support to Egypt. This further strained relations with Israel, leading to a gradual distancing between the two nations, which culminated in the complete severance of ties after the 1979 Iranian Revolution,” it added.

The Shah maintained good relations with then-Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and on a few occasion did criticize Israel while even more strongly criticizing the Palestinians. However, he was a Western ally and continued cooperation with Israel.

Reza Pahlavi’s advocacy

Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of the Shah, presents a viewpoint that starkly contrasts with the narrative put forth by Entekhab and others.

He has actively called for “regime change” in Iran while advocating for renewed ties with Israel. In April 2023, Pahlavi traveled to Israel “to deliver a message of friendship from the Iranian people.” He publicly prayed for peace between Israel and Iran during a visit to the Western Wall in Jerusalem.

Pahlavi expressed hopes that the two nations can one day resume their historical friendship.

He tweeted from the Western Wall, referencing Cyrus the Great's liberation of the Jewish people: “It is with profound awe that I visit the Western Wall of that Temple and pray for the day when the good people of Iran and Israel can renew our historic friendship.”

In an interview with Fox News on Sunday, Pahlavi said, “An Iranian regime change would mean an end to many global problems.” He emphasized that a change would alleviate many global problems, highlighting the detrimental impact of the current leadership on Iran’s economy and stability.

"The nuclear threat, the proliferation of this ideology, period, the end of this regime would mean an end to all these problems," he said.