By Rabia Ali
ISTANBUL (AA) - Here is a rundown of all the news you need to start your Wednesday with, including Iran's missile attack on Israel, Israel's fresh airstrikes in Beirut suburb, and a deadly attack in Gaza by Israel targeting displaced Palestinians.
TOP STORIES
- Iran launches barrage of missiles at Israel
Iran fired hundreds of ballistic missiles at Israel amid heightened tensions between the two regional arch-rivals.
Iran said its missile attack against Israel was an act of "self-defense" under Article 51 of the UN Charter in retaliation for Israel’s recent actions, and called on the UN Security Council to halt Israeli “aggression.”
Israel’s Army Radio reported the launch of 180 missiles, revising an earlier estimate of at least 200. Sirens sounded across the country, halting all takeoffs and landings at Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv.
The Israel Airports Authority declared the closure of airspace, rerouting flights to alternative airports abroad, according to Israel’s Yedioth Ahronoth daily. The military urged residents of the country’s southern and central regions to “immediately enter a protected space and remain there until further instructions are given.”
- Israel launches fresh airstrikes in Beirut suburb after evacuation orders
Israel launched fresh airstrikes in a southern suburb of the Lebanese capital Beirut early Wednesday after issuing orders for residents to evacuate.
Warplanes carried out strikes in several neighborhoods in southern Beirut, including Haret Hreik, Chyah, Choueifat, Er-Rouaiss and Jamous, sources and witnesses said.
Billows of smoke were seen rising from the targeted areas.
- At least 10 killed in Israeli strikes on facilities sheltering displaced Gazans
At least 10 Palestinians were killed early Wednesday in Israeli airstrikes on facilities sheltering displaced people in Gaza City, the civil defense service said.
While five people lost their lives when Israeli forces struck Al-Amal Orphanage; five more, including three children, were killed in a strike targeting the Muscat School in Gaza City.
Several other children were seriously injured in the attack.
NEWS IN BRIEF
- Israel vowed to respond to Iran’s unprecedented missile attack on the country at a time of its choosing.
- US President Joe Biden said he is "fully supportive" of Israel in the wake of Iranian ballistic missile attack.
- Thousands of demonstrators filled the streets of Tehran Tuesday to celebrate Iran's missile strike on Israel.
- Hezbollah said Wednesday that its fighters clashed with an Israeli infantry force trying to infiltrate the town of Odaisseh in southern Lebanon.
- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for more countries to recognize the state of Palestine.
- The UN Security Council will convene in an emergency session Wednesday to discuss escalating tensions between Lebanon and Israel.
- Two shipwrecks off the coast of Djibouti killed at least 45 migrants, with many missing, according to the UN's International Organization for Migration (IOM).
- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres denounced the escalation of tensions in the Middle East.
- A series of shootings in the city of Jaffa, south of Tel Aviv, resulted in the deaths of eight people, with several others injured.
SPORTS
- Arsenal secure 2-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain with 1st-half goals
Arsenal clinched a 2-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain with first-half goals in a UEFA Champions League match on Tuesday.
Kai Havertz broke the deadlock with a header for the Gunners in the 20th minute and Bukayo Saka doubled Arsenal’s lead from a free-kick in the 35th minute at Emirates Stadium.
Eighth-place Arsenal increased their points to four and 18th-place Paris Saint-Germain collected three points.
- Brest play to comfortable away win against Red Bull Salzburg in Champions League
Brest secured a 4-0 shutout road victory against Red Bull Salzburg on Tuesday in the second week of the UEFA Champions League.
Brest broke open the scoring with a close-range finish from Abdallah Sima in the 24th minute and doubled the lead when Mahdi Camara scored in the 66th minute at Stadion Salzburg.
Sima made it three in the 70th minute and Mathias Pereira Lage netted a long-range finish in the 75th minute.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
- Israel’s credit rating downgraded amid escalating conflict with Hezbollah
Global credit ratings agency S&P downgraded Israel’s long-term rating from A+ to A on Tuesday.
The rating agency cited risks to Israel’s economy and public finances from the ongoing warfare with Hezbollah, and a possible conflict with Iran.
- Thousands protest in France demanding repeal of pension reform, higher salaries
Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of the French capital Paris and other cities Tuesday to demand the repeal of President Emmanuel Macron’s pension reform, higher salaries and improvements to their living standards.
They also protested Macron’s decision to appoint Michel Barnier as prime minister.
Pensions and wages were at the heart of demands in almost 250 protests in France at the call of the General Confederation of Labor (CGT), Federation Syndicale Unitaire (FST) and Solidaires unions.