The Turkish air force conducted air strikes in northern Iraq and Syria and destroyed 29 targets of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) after 12 soldiers were killed in the past two days in northern Iraq. Turkish strikes have killed 92 in Syria in 2023.

Turkey steps up war on Kurdish militants after 12 soldiers were killed

The Turkish air force conducted air strikes in northern Iraq and Syria, destroyed 29 targets of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) after 12 soldiers got killed in the past two days in Northern Iraq. In 2023,Turkiye has carried out 124 strikes in northern Syria. As Turkey airstrikes against Kurdish militants, Human Rights group says 11 civilians' were injured in the latest strikes.

Turkiye intensifies airstrikes in Syria & northern Iraq

A US fighter jet attacked two targets in Iraq killing five people. The US called the strike a retaliation for repeated attacks on its troops in the country. An Iraqi security Force official confirmed that the strike killed five fighters of the Hezbollah group.

Airstrikes by the US kills five pro-Iran fighters

Major international air carriers have suspended or cancelled flight services in and out of the Israeli city of Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport after Hamas launched its surprise attack over the weekend and said that they are waiting for safety conditions to improve.&nbsp;

According to a report by flight tracking website, Flightradar24, about 50 per cent of the flights scheduled for Tel Aviv did not operate on Sunday (Oct 8) and one-third of the flights were cancelled on Monday as of 6:41 pm (local time).&nbsp;

<h2>What have the airlines said?</h2>

Indian air carrier Air India said that it would suspend the flights operating to and from Tel Aviv till at least October 14, “for the safety of our passengers and crew,” said the airline’s spokesperson, in a statement.&nbsp;

It added that they will provide all possible support to passengers who have confirmed bookings which have now been cancelled.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, American air carriers United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and American Airlines, on Sunday, suspended direct flights to Israel following an advisory by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) urging airlines to use caution.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/change-the-middle-east-israel-pms-remarks-signals-future-of-israel-hamas-war-644643">'Change the Middle East': Israel PM's remarks signal future of Israel-Hamas war</a>

Additionally, multiple European airlines including Ryanair and Norwegian Air have cancelled their flights from Copenhagen and Stockholm to Tel Aviv for this week.&nbsp;

Air France, Lufthansa, and Emirates have also suspended direct flights to the international airport in Tel Aviv.&nbsp;

Britain’s easyJet also halted flights to Tel Aviv on Sunday and Monday and said that it would adjust timings over the next few days.&nbsp;

Hungarian budget carrier Wizz Air has cancelled all flights to and from Tel Aviv until further notice.

Virgin Atlantic said it would continue to run some flights in and out of Tel Aviv but customers could rebook or request a refund until October 15.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/volodymyr-zelensky-compares-hamas-to-russia-moscow-suggests-most-reliable-solution-to-israel-conflict-644534">Volodymyr Zelensky compares Hamas to Russia; Moscow suggests 'most reliable' solution to Israel conflict</a>

Other airlines suspending flights included Aegean, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, and Air Canada.

<h2>What about Israel’s national carrier?</h2>

Israel’s flag carrier El Al being the exception, on Sunday said that it would maintain its Tel Aviv flights for now while some flights operated by foreign partners had been cancelled.&nbsp;

The airline said that it was operating “in accordance with the instructions of the Israeli security forces,” and all flights are now departing only from one terminal at the Ben Gurion airport.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-calls-up-for-300000-army-reservists-as-its-war-with-hamas-rages-on-644572">Israel calls up for 300,000 army reservists as its war with Hamas rages on</a> 
 
FAA, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency and Israel’s aviation authority urged airlines to use caution while operating in the region’s airspace. Meanwhile, Israeli airport authority said Ben Gurion continued to handle arrivals and departures, as of Monday (Oct 9).&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
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Major international air carriers have suspended or cancelled flight services in and out of the Israeli city of Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport after Hamas launched its surprise attack over the weekend and said that they are waiting for safety conditions to improve.

Major international air carriers have suspended or cancelled flight services in and out of the Israeli city of Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport after Hamas launched its surprise attack over the weekend and said that they are waiting for safety conditions to improve. According to a report by flight tracking website, Flightradar24, about 50 per cent of the flights scheduled for Tel Aviv did not operate on Sunday (Oct 8) and one-third of the flights were cancelled on Monday as of 6:41 pm (local time). What have the airlines said? Indian air carrier Air India said that it would suspend the flights operating to and from Tel Aviv till at least October 14, “for the safety of our passengers and crew,” said the airline’s spokesperson, in a statement. It added that they will provide all possible support to passengers who have confirmed bookings which have now been cancelled. Meanwhile, American air carriers United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and American Airlines, on Sunday, suspended direct flights to Israel following an advisory by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) urging airlines to use caution. ALSO READ | 'Change the Middle East': Israel PM's remarks signal future of Israel-Hamas war Additionally, multiple European airlines including Ryanair and Norwegian Air have cancelled their flights from Copenhagen and Stockholm to Tel Aviv for this week. Air France, Lufthansa, and Emirates have also suspended direct flights to the international airport in Tel Aviv. Britain’s easyJet also halted flights to Tel Aviv on Sunday and Monday and said that it would adjust timings over the next few days. Hungarian budget carrier Wizz Air has cancelled all flights to and from Tel Aviv until further notice. Virgin Atlantic said it would continue to run some flights in and out of Tel Aviv but customers could rebook or request a refund until October 15. ALSO READ | Volodymyr Zelensky compares Hamas to Russia; Moscow suggests 'most reliable' solution to Israel conflict Other airlines suspending flights included Aegean, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, and Air Canada. What about Israel’s national carrier? Israel’s flag carrier El Al being the exception, on Sunday said that it would maintain its Tel Aviv flights for now while some flights operated by foreign partners had been cancelled. The airline said that it was operating “in accordance with the instructions of the Israeli security forces,” and all flights are now departing only from one terminal at the Ben Gurion airport. ALSO READ | Israel calls up for 300,000 army reservists as its war with Hamas rages on FAA, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency and Israel’s aviation authority urged airlines to use caution while operating in the region’s airspace. Meanwhile, Israeli airport authority said Ben Gurion continued to handle arrivals and departures, as of Monday (Oct 9). (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Israel-Hamas war: Several airlines suspend flights to Tel Aviv amid attack on Israel

At least two civilians have been&nbsp;killed in Russian air strikes on an abandoned water pumping station in Syria's rebel-held northwest.

As per&nbsp;an AFP report, late on Tuesday, the two strikes&nbsp;hit at the facility near Ain Shib, west of the city of Idlib, where displaced Syrians had been living. This comes&nbsp;amid a recent increase in attacks by the Syrian government's ally, Moscow.

Other late-night air strikes reportedly targeted the town of Ariha, located south of Idlib city in Syria.&nbsp;

<h2>Casualties</h2>

Quoting first responders, AFP reports that at least&nbsp;two civilians had been killed. Several inhabitants&nbsp;of the building remain unaccounted for.

As per the monitoring&nbsp;group,&nbsp;the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the strikes near Ain Shib had targeted "military bases belonging to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)".

Also read |&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-strikes-on-syria-claim-lives-of-three-civilians-622719" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-strikes-on-syria-claim-lives-of-three-civilians-622719&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiy8YSgwfGAAxXyb2wGHWf-DEYQFnoECAIQAg&amp;usg=AOvVaw1ksyTLiOquO2bU4HcG841L" dir="ltr" href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-strikes-on-syria-claim-lives-of-three-civilians-622719&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiy8YSgwfGAAxXyb2wGHWf-DEYQFnoECAIQAg&amp;usg=AOvVaw1ksyTLiOquO2bU4HcG841L" target="_blank">Russian strikes&nbsp;on&nbsp;Syria&nbsp;claim lives of three civilians</a>

Just hours before the Ariha strikes, Russian air attacks targeted a rebel base to the north of Idlib city killing three, and injuring seven HTS members. Five civilians were also wounded in the strike, reports UK-based monitoring group.

HTS is a&nbsp;jihadist group that controls the bastion. The group routinely&nbsp;carries out deadly attacks on soldiers and pro-government forces. In recent days,&nbsp;Russian forces have repeatedly targeted the Idlib area. Some of Moscow's previous strikes also resulted in some civilian casualties.

On Monday, Russian air strikes on the periphery of Idlib City&nbsp;resulted in the death&nbsp;of 13 HTS fighters and while several others were reportedly injured.

Earlier on August 5, a Russian air strike&nbsp;directed at a former HTS&nbsp;base that the militant group had vacated a few weeks prior killed three civilians&nbsp;— members of the&nbsp;same family on the outskirts of Idlib.&nbsp;

Another strike in the Idlib province,&nbsp;on June 25, claimed the lives of at least 13 individuals, including nine civilians.

As per the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Russian strikes&nbsp;have wounded around 30 civilians in the Idlib province.&nbsp;Among the casualties of these air strikes, was a member of the Turkistan Islamic Party, an organisation primarily composed of Uyghur fighters, reports AFP.

<h2>Moscow intervention</h2>

The strikes are part of Russia's intervention in Syria's ongoing civil conflict. Since 2015, Moscow has aided the Syrian government's efforts to regain control over territories that were previously lost to rebel forces during the nation's 12-year civil conflict.

HTS group, which formerly had linkages to Al-Qaeda, holds control over significant areas within Idlib province, along with portions of adjacent Latakia, Hama, and Aleppo provinces.

(With inputs from agencies)

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At least two civilians have been killed in Russian air strikes on an abandoned water pumping station in Syria's rebel-held northwest. As per an AFP report, late on Tuesday, the two strikes hit at the facility near Ain Shib, west of the city of Idlib, where displaced Syrians had been living.

At least two civilians have been killed in Russian air strikes on an abandoned water pumping station in Syria's rebel-held northwest. As per an AFP report, late on Tuesday, the two strikes hit at the facility near Ain Shib, west of the city of Idlib, where displaced Syrians had been living. This comes amid a recent increase in attacks by the Syrian government's ally, Moscow. Other late-night air strikes reportedly targeted the town of Ariha, located south of Idlib city in Syria. Casualties Quoting first responders, AFP reports that at least two civilians had been killed. Several inhabitants of the building remain unaccounted for. As per the monitoring group, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the strikes near Ain Shib had targeted "military bases belonging to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)". Also read | Russian strikes on Syria claim lives of three civilians Just hours before the Ariha strikes, Russian air attacks targeted a rebel base to the north of Idlib city killing three, and injuring seven HTS members. Five civilians were also wounded in the strike, reports UK-based monitoring group. HTS is a jihadist group that controls the bastion. The group routinely carries out deadly attacks on soldiers and pro-government forces. In recent days, Russian forces have repeatedly targeted the Idlib area. Some of Moscow's previous strikes also resulted in some civilian casualties. On Monday, Russian air strikes on the periphery of Idlib City resulted in the death of 13 HTS fighters and while several others were reportedly injured. Earlier on August 5, a Russian air strike directed at a former HTS base that the militant group had vacated a few weeks prior killed three civilians — members of the same family on the outskirts of Idlib. Another strike in the Idlib province, on June 25, claimed the lives of at least 13 individuals, including nine civilians. As per the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Russian strikes have wounded around 30 civilians in the Idlib province. Among the casualties of these air strikes, was a member of the Turkistan Islamic Party, an organisation primarily composed of Uyghur fighters, reports AFP. Moscow intervention The strikes are part of Russia's intervention in Syria's ongoing civil conflict. Since 2015, Moscow has aided the Syrian government's efforts to regain control over territories that were previously lost to rebel forces during the nation's 12-year civil conflict. HTS group, which formerly had linkages to Al-Qaeda, holds control over significant areas within Idlib province, along with portions of adjacent Latakia, Hama, and Aleppo provinces. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Two civilians killed in Russian air strikes on water station in Syria's rebel-held northwest

At least seven people, including a six-year-old child, were killed and 129 others were wounded after Russian air strikes on Ukraine's Chernihiv, said&nbsp;the Ukrainian&nbsp;interior ministry, on Saturday (August 19).&nbsp;Citing Ukraine's interior ministry, the Reuters report&nbsp;said that the incident occurred as people were en route to a church to observe a religious holiday.

<h2>What happened?</h2>

Russian forces on Saturday launched an attack in the centre of Chernihiv, a city in northern Ukraine, which had largely remained untouched by air strikes since the start of Moscow's invasion. Chernihiv is situated about 150 kilometres (90 miles) north of Kyiv, near the border with Moscow-aligned Belarus. 
 
"As of 3:25 pm (local time), 117 people were injured in the terrorist attack on the centre of Chernihiv, seven of them died," Oleksandr Lomako, Chernihiv's acting mayor had said on Telegram, earlier. The Ukrainian Interior Minister&nbsp;Ihor Klymenko later reported that 129 people had been injured, among whom were 15 children and 15 police&nbsp;officers.&nbsp; 
 
According to Ukrainian media reports&nbsp;a public event featuring drone manufacturers had been taking place inside the theatre at the time of the attack. However,&nbsp;Klymenko only confirmed that an&nbsp;unspecified event had been taking place&nbsp;and that&nbsp;Ukraine's domestic security service was investigating the matter.&nbsp; 
 
UN condemns attack

In a statement, the United Nations'&nbsp;humanitarian coordinator for Ukraine&nbsp;condemned the Russian missile attack on&nbsp;Chernihiv's city centre and called it&nbsp;"heinous". The UN official also called for&nbsp;Moscow to end strikes on "populated areas".

"It is heinous to attack the main square of a large city, in the morning, while people are out walking, some going to church to celebrate a religious day for many Ukrainians," said&nbsp;Denise Brown, UN official for&nbsp;Ukraine,&nbsp;in an online statement, referring to the&nbsp;Orthodox holiday of the Transfiguration of the Lord.&nbsp; 
 
The holiday&nbsp;saw some in Chernihiv attending church services in the morning.&nbsp;"I condemn this repeated pattern of Russian strikes on populated areas of Ukraine, causing deaths, massive destruction and soaring humanitarian needs," Brown added.&nbsp; 
 
Zelensky calls for action

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky took to X (formerly Twitter)&nbsp;and shared a video of the attack which he said involved&nbsp;a&nbsp;university. He also asked the world to take action against the Russian "terror".

"This is what it means to live next to a terrorist state. This is what we are uniting the entire world against. Today, a Russian missile hit the heart of Chernihiv. A square, a university, and a theater. Russia turned an ordinary Saturday into a day of pain and loss. There are casualties. My condolences to everyone who has lost a loved one. All services are working on the site. Rescuers, police, doctors. I urge the world to stand up to Russian terror. Provide Ukraine with additional tools to safeguard life. For life to win, Russia must lose this war," he wrote on X.&nbsp;

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This is what it means to live next to a terrorist state. This is what we are uniting the entire world against. 
 
Today, a Russian missile hit the heart of Chernihiv. A square, a university, and a theater. Russia turned an ordinary Saturday into a day of pain and loss. There are… <a href="https://t.co/AMgXCVfR7h">pic.twitter.com/AMgXCVfR7h</a>
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1692830218338107595?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Vyacheslav Chaus, the head of the Chernihiv region, reportedly stated that the "enemy" had shelled Chernihiv's centre, likely employing a "ballistic missile".

He advised residents to seek shelter and await for further information. In a post hours later,&nbsp;Zelensky, who is on a visit to Sweden, said "A Russian missile hit right in the centre of the city, in our Chernihiv. A square, the polytechnic university, a theatre."&nbsp;

"An ordinary Saturday, which Russia turned into a day of pain and loss," he&nbsp;added.&nbsp;

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brazil-bolsonaros-legal-troubles-deepen-as-quote-authorises-probe-into-his-finances-626878">Brazil: Bolsonaro's legal troubles mount as SC Justice authorises probe into his finances</a>

<h2>Kyiv missile attempt intercepted</h2>

In a separate incident, the Ukrainian capital city of Kyiv, made an unsuccessful "terrorist" attempt to strike Crimea "using an&nbsp;S-200 surface-to-air missile re-equipped into a strike weapon," Russian Defence Ministry said. Russian air defence systems successfully intercepted the missile in the air. The ministry also said that there were no casualties or damage caused on the ground.

<h2>Putin's meeting with military commanders</h2>

President Vladimir Putin convened a meeting with Russia's top military leaders at the command post of the Russian "special military operation" in Rostov-on-Don, a city in southern Russia.

Watch | Has China's growth story hit a roadblock?&nbsp;

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During the meeting, Putin received updates from Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov and other military commanders. This is not the first time Putin has visited this command post. He previously held discussions with military officials there in March and also visited Mariupol around the same time.

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&nbsp;

At least seven people, including a six-year-old child, were killed and 129 others were wounded after Russian air strikes on Ukraine's Chernihiv, said the Ukrainian interior ministry, on Saturday (August 19).

At least seven people, including a six-year-old child, were killed and 129 others were wounded after Russian air strikes on Ukraine's Chernihiv, said the Ukrainian interior ministry, on Saturday (August 19). Citing Ukraine's interior ministry, the Reuters report said that the incident occurred as people were en route to a church to observe a religious holiday. What happened? Russian forces on Saturday launched an attack in the centre of Chernihiv, a city in northern Ukraine, which had largely remained untouched by air strikes since the start of Moscow's invasion. Chernihiv is situated about 150 kilometres (90 miles) north of Kyiv, near the border with Moscow-aligned Belarus. "As of 3:25 pm (local time), 117 people were injured in the terrorist attack on the centre of Chernihiv, seven of them died," Oleksandr Lomako, Chernihiv's acting mayor had said on Telegram, earlier. The Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko later reported that 129 people had been injured, among whom were 15 children and 15 police officers. According to Ukrainian media reports a public event featuring drone manufacturers had been taking place inside the theatre at the time of the attack. However, Klymenko only confirmed that an unspecified event had been taking place and that Ukraine's domestic security service was investigating the matter. UN condemns attack In a statement, the United Nations' humanitarian coordinator for Ukraine condemned the Russian missile attack on Chernihiv's city centre and called it "heinous". The UN official also called for Moscow to end strikes on "populated areas". "It is heinous to attack the main square of a large city, in the morning, while people are out walking, some going to church to celebrate a religious day for many Ukrainians," said Denise Brown, UN official for Ukraine, in an online statement, referring to the Orthodox holiday of the Transfiguration of the Lord. The holiday saw some in Chernihiv attending church services in the morning. "I condemn this repeated pattern of Russian strikes on populated areas of Ukraine, causing deaths, massive destruction and soaring humanitarian needs," Brown added. Zelensky calls for action Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky took to X (formerly Twitter) and shared a video of the attack which he said involved a university. He also asked the world to take action against the Russian "terror". "This is what it means to live next to a terrorist state. This is what we are uniting the entire world against. Today, a Russian missile hit the heart of Chernihiv. A square, a university, and a theater. Russia turned an ordinary Saturday into a day of pain and loss. There are casualties. My condolences to everyone who has lost a loved one. All services are working on the site. Rescuers, police, doctors. I urge the world to stand up to Russian terror. Provide Ukraine with additional tools to safeguard life. For life to win, Russia must lose this war," he wrote on X. This is what it means to live next to a terrorist state. This is what we are uniting the entire world against. Today, a Russian missile hit the heart of Chernihiv. A square, a university, and a theater. Russia turned an ordinary Saturday into a day of pain and loss. There are… pic.twitter.com/AMgXCVfR7h — Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 19, 2023 × Also Read | Niger's new Prime Minister says no harm will come to captive President Mohamed Bazoum Vyacheslav Chaus, the head of the Chernihiv region, reportedly stated that the "enemy" had shelled Chernihiv's centre, likely employing a "ballistic missile". He advised residents to seek shelter and await for further information. In a post hours later, Zelensky, who is on a visit to Sweden, said "A Russian missile hit right in the centre of the city, in our Chernihiv. A square, the polytechnic university, a theatre." "An ordinary Saturday, which Russia turned into a day of pain and loss," he added. Also Read | Brazil: Bolsonaro's legal troubles mount as SC Justice authorises probe into his finances Kyiv missile attempt intercepted In a separate incident, the Ukrainian capital city of Kyiv, made an unsuccessful "terrorist" attempt to strike Crimea "using an S-200 surface-to-air missile re-equipped into a strike weapon," Russian Defence Ministry said. Russian air defence systems successfully intercepted the missile in the air. The ministry also said that there were no casualties or damage caused on the ground. Putin's meeting with military commanders President Vladimir Putin convened a meeting with Russia's top military leaders at the command post of the Russian "special military operation" in Rostov-on-Don, a city in southern Russia. Watch | Has China's growth story hit a roadblock? × During the meeting, Putin received updates from Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov and other military commanders. This is not the first time Putin has visited this command post. He previously held discussions with military officials there in March and also visited Mariupol around the same time. (Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on Ukraine-Russia war on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

At least 7 killed, 129 injured by Russian strike in Ukraine's Chernihiv; UN condemns 'heinous' attack

Israel launched air strikes early Tuesday (May 9) against the militant group Islamic Jihad in Gaza, killing 12 people. According to a report by the news agency AFP, the Israeli army said it targeted&nbsp;three leaders of Islamic Jihad and hit&nbsp;&nbsp;"weapon manufacturing sites" belonging to the group.&nbsp;The militant group confirmed three senior officials were killed, naming them in a statement as Jihad Ghannam, secretary of the Al-Quds Brigades military council, and Khalil al-Bahtini,&nbsp;also of the council and commander of the military wing in northern&nbsp;Gaza.

The third official, Tareq Ezzedine, was described by Islamic Jihad as "one of the heads of military action" in the occupied West Bank who operated from&nbsp;Gaza, AFP reported.&nbsp;

According to a report by Al Jazeera, witnesses said&nbsp;an explosion hit the top floor of an apartment building in Gaza and a house in the southern city of Rafah.

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/45-year-old-islamic-jihad-member-khader-adnan-dies-is-israeli-custody-588164">45-year-old Islamic Jihad member Khader Adnan dies is Israeli custody</a> 
 
Palestinian officials, as per Reuters, confirmed that the Israeli military&nbsp;killed three senior Islamic Jihad commanders in Gaza.

The Israeli army, meanwhile, also instructed its citizens&nbsp;within 40 kilometres of Gaza to enter bomb shelters and following a "situational assessment" they are to remain there until Wednesday. This comes as previous strikes&nbsp;on the Islamic Jihad&nbsp;group&nbsp;have sparked barrages of rockets on Israeli civilians&nbsp;which can go on for days, reported the Israeli media.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/over-30-rockets-fired-from-gaza-after-palestinian-hunger-striker-dies-in-israeli-custody-588319">Nearly 40 rockets fired from Gaza after Palestinian hunger striker dies in Israeli custody; Israel retaliates</a> 
 
In line with the IDF's&nbsp;warning, schools near Gaza and surrounding areas were asked to be cancelled.&nbsp;COGAT, a unit in the Israeli defence ministry that coordinates civilian affairs with the Palestinians, said two crossings with Gaza were closed for entry and exit of people and goods until further notice, reported Reuters.&nbsp; 
 
Previous attacks 
 
This comes days after dozens of&nbsp;projectiles were fired from Gaza Strip at southern Israel&nbsp;after an Islamic Jihad leader and&nbsp;Palestinian hunger striker, Khader Adnan, died in Israeli custody following an 87-day hunger strike. The incident had not only sparked protests but also several rockets were launched from Gaza.&nbsp;

It was not until hours later that the IDF&nbsp;conducted air strikes in response to the volley of rockets launched at Israel and said&nbsp;it targeted the Hamas training camp and several other sites belonging to the group.&nbsp; 
 
(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

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Israel launched air strikes early Tuesday (May 9) against the militant group Islamic Jihad in Gaza, killing 12 people. According to a report by the news agency AFP, the Israeli army said it targeted three leaders of Islamic Jihad and hit "weapon manufacturing sites" belonging to the group.

Israel launched air strikes early Tuesday (May 9) against the militant group Islamic Jihad in Gaza, killing 12 people. According to a report by the news agency AFP, the Israeli army said it targeted three leaders of Islamic Jihad and hit "weapon manufacturing sites" belonging to the group. The militant group confirmed three senior officials were killed, naming them in a statement as Jihad Ghannam, secretary of the Al-Quds Brigades military council, and Khalil al-Bahtini, also of the council and commander of the military wing in northern Gaza. The third official, Tareq Ezzedine, was described by Islamic Jihad as "one of the heads of military action" in the occupied West Bank who operated from Gaza, AFP reported. According to a report by Al Jazeera, witnesses said an explosion hit the top floor of an apartment building in Gaza and a house in the southern city of Rafah. ALSO WATCH | 45-year-old Islamic Jihad member Khader Adnan dies is Israeli custody Palestinian officials, as per Reuters, confirmed that the Israeli military killed three senior Islamic Jihad commanders in Gaza. The Israeli army, meanwhile, also instructed its citizens within 40 kilometres of Gaza to enter bomb shelters and following a "situational assessment" they are to remain there until Wednesday. This comes as previous strikes on the Islamic Jihad group have sparked barrages of rockets on Israeli civilians which can go on for days, reported the Israeli media. ALSO READ | Nearly 40 rockets fired from Gaza after Palestinian hunger striker dies in Israeli custody; Israel retaliates In line with the IDF's warning, schools near Gaza and surrounding areas were asked to be cancelled. COGAT, a unit in the Israeli defence ministry that coordinates civilian affairs with the Palestinians, said two crossings with Gaza were closed for entry and exit of people and goods until further notice, reported Reuters. Previous attacks This comes days after dozens of projectiles were fired from Gaza Strip at southern Israel after an Islamic Jihad leader and Palestinian hunger striker, Khader Adnan, died in Israeli custody following an 87-day hunger strike. The incident had not only sparked protests but also several rockets were launched from Gaza. It was not until hours later that the IDF conducted air strikes in response to the volley of rockets launched at Israel and said it targeted the Hamas training camp and several other sites belonging to the group. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Twelve people, including top militants killed after Israeli jets hit targets in Gaza

Ukraine announced on Saturday that it has downed a Russian hypersonic Kinzhal missile for the first time amid continuous attacks by Moscow that took place in the night between last Wednesday and Thursday in Kyiv.

The downing of Russian hypersonic missiles is being seen as a major setback to Russia's campaign of long-range air strikes.

The Ukraine Air Force announced that they shot down the Kh-47 Kinzhal missile in the skies of Kyiv using a US Patriot air defence system in the skies at around 2:30 am on Thursday (2330 GMT Wednesday).

"I congratulate the Ukrainian people on the historic event," said Ukrainian Air Force Commander General Mykola Oleshchuk on Telegram. "Yes, we shot down the 'unparallelled' Kinzhal'&nbsp;missile," he added.

The US Patriot system is among an array of sophisticated air defence units which was supplied to Ukraine by the West to repel Russia's month-long campaign of air strikes which had targeted the country's power facilities, critical infrastructure, and other sites.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-authorities-shoot-down-drone-near-airbase-in-crimea-588984">Ukraine shoots down its own drone that 'lost control' over Kyiv</a>

<h2>What is a Kinzhal missile?</h2>

The word Kinzhal means "dagger" in Russian. Kinzhal missile is among the six "next generation" weapons which President Vladimir Putin had unveiled in 2018 and had boasted as one of those missiles which cannot be shot down by any air defence system&nbsp;of the world.

Putin had termed Kinzhal missile as "an ideal weapon" that the missile defences find extremely difficult to intercept.

According to the Russian military, the ballistic missile boasts a range of up to 2,000km (1,250 miles) and flies 10 times faster than the speed of sound which makes it difficult to intercept.

The ballistic missile is capable of carrying conventional or nuclear warheads. Kinzhal missile is 8 metres long, has a body diameter of 1 metrer, and its launch weight is approximately 4,300 kg.

The missile has been designed to be launched using MiG-31 fighter jets from an altitude of about 18 km (59,000 ft). During all stages of the flight, this missile manoeuvres to overcome hostile air defence systems.

<h2>How much damage can a Kinzhal missile cause?</h2>

Although Russia has claimed that the missile is among “next generation” systems, however, experts in the West say that these claims are exaggerated.

The Centre for Strategic and International Studies states that “Russia’s designation of the Kinzhal as a ‘hypersonic’ missile is somewhat misleading, as nearly all ballistic missiles reach hypersonic speeds… at some point during their flight.”

Meanwhile, the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence said that the use of the Kinzhal was “likely intended to detract from a lack of progress in Russia’s ground campaign” and “unlikely to materially affect the outcome of Russia’s campaign” in Ukraine.

The major difference between Kinzhal and its purported predecessor is that the missile is launched using an airborne vehicle and not from the ground, which makes it less predictable and more difficult to intercept, and also more survivable compared to the Iskander ground system.

The Kinzhal missile can also be seen as a precision weapon which can easily strike key targets like command centres and with its high speed, the missile can easily penetrate even deeply buried bunkers. However, for achieving such a feat, good information about the target location is required.

Even though Kinzhal is considered as a dangerous weapon, most analysts agree that it is not very different from weapons which have been in use for decades.

Any previous use of Kinzhal for the attack was not previously disclosed by the Air Force, although Kyiv officials immediately stated that there has been an involvement of a ballistic missile.

WATCH | Is Russia's attempt of invading Ukraine fading away? | Russia-Ukraine War

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/is-russias-attempt-of-invading-ukraine-fading-away-russia-ukraine-war-589405/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<h2>Ukraine's efforts to strengthen the air defence system</h2>

Ukraine also appealed to the Western allies to help in reinforcing the country's air defence system as its energy infrastructure has been pounded by Russia from the air over winter.

Ukraine in mid-April received the first Patriots which is considered as one of the most advanced air defence systems of the United States.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the system would "significantly" strengthen the defences of the country against Russian strikes.

Many civilians have lost their lives in the attacks which were escalated by Russia in October ahead of winter. The Russian strikes failed to

The strikes failed to paralyse the power grid but led to major power outages. Russia has constantly denied targeting civilians.

Russia made the air strikes on Thursday a day after it accused Ukraine of making a failed attempt to assassinate President Vladimir Putin through a drone attack over the Kremlin citadel in Moscow and said that it would retaliate.

Since then, Moscow has accused Washington of being involved in the assassination plan but the allegations were denied by both the United States and Ukraine.

The drone and missile attacks over regions of Ukraine have been intensified by Russia in the past week as Kyiv prepares for a counter-offensive against the Russian army who have dug in across occupied land in the south and east.&nbsp;

<main>
<section>
(With inputs from agencies)

You can&nbsp;now write for wionews.com&nbsp;and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

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Ukraine announced on Saturday that it has downed a Russian hypersonic Kinzhal missile for the first time amid continuous attacks by Moscow that took place in the night between last Wednesday and Thursday in Kyiv.

Ukraine announced on Saturday that it has downed a Russian hypersonic Kinzhal missile for the first time amid continuous attacks by Moscow that took place in the night between last Wednesday and Thursday in Kyiv. The downing of Russian hypersonic missiles is being seen as a major setback to Russia's campaign of long-range air strikes. The Ukraine Air Force announced that they shot down the Kh-47 Kinzhal missile in the skies of Kyiv using a US Patriot air defence system in the skies at around 2:30 am on Thursday (2330 GMT Wednesday). "I congratulate the Ukrainian people on the historic event," said Ukrainian Air Force Commander General Mykola Oleshchuk on Telegram. "Yes, we shot down the 'unparallelled' Kinzhal' missile," he added. The US Patriot system is among an array of sophisticated air defence units which was supplied to Ukraine by the West to repel Russia's month-long campaign of air strikes which had targeted the country's power facilities, critical infrastructure, and other sites. ALSO READ | Ukraine shoots down its own drone that 'lost control' over Kyiv What is a Kinzhal missile? The word Kinzhal means "dagger" in Russian. Kinzhal missile is among the six "next generation" weapons which President Vladimir Putin had unveiled in 2018 and had boasted as one of those missiles which cannot be shot down by any air defence system of the world. Putin had termed Kinzhal missile as "an ideal weapon" that the missile defences find extremely difficult to intercept. According to the Russian military, the ballistic missile boasts a range of up to 2,000km (1,250 miles) and flies 10 times faster than the speed of sound which makes it difficult to intercept. The ballistic missile is capable of carrying conventional or nuclear warheads. Kinzhal missile is 8 metres long, has a body diameter of 1 metrer, and its launch weight is approximately 4,300 kg. The missile has been designed to be launched using MiG-31 fighter jets from an altitude of about 18 km (59,000 ft). During all stages of the flight, this missile manoeuvres to overcome hostile air defence systems. How much damage can a Kinzhal missile cause? Although Russia has claimed that the missile is among “next generation” systems, however, experts in the West say that these claims are exaggerated. The Centre for Strategic and International Studies states that “Russia’s designation of the Kinzhal as a ‘hypersonic’ missile is somewhat misleading, as nearly all ballistic missiles reach hypersonic speeds… at some point during their flight.” Meanwhile, the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence said that the use of the Kinzhal was “likely intended to detract from a lack of progress in Russia’s ground campaign” and “unlikely to materially affect the outcome of Russia’s campaign” in Ukraine. The major difference between Kinzhal and its purported predecessor is that the missile is launched using an airborne vehicle and not from the ground, which makes it less predictable and more difficult to intercept, and also more survivable compared to the Iskander ground system. The Kinzhal missile can also be seen as a precision weapon which can easily strike key targets like command centres and with its high speed, the missile can easily penetrate even deeply buried bunkers. However, for achieving such a feat, good information about the target location is required. Even though Kinzhal is considered as a dangerous weapon, most analysts agree that it is not very different from weapons which have been in use for decades. Any previous use of Kinzhal for the attack was not previously disclosed by the Air Force, although Kyiv officials immediately stated that there has been an involvement of a ballistic missile. WATCH | Is Russia's attempt of invading Ukraine fading away? | Russia-Ukraine War Ukraine's efforts to strengthen the air defence system Ukraine also appealed to the Western allies to help in reinforcing the country's air defence system as its energy infrastructure has been pounded by Russia from the air over winter. Ukraine in mid-April received the first Patriots which is considered as one of the most advanced air defence systems of the United States. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the system would "significantly" strengthen the defences of the country against Russian strikes. Many civilians have lost their lives in the attacks which were escalated by Russia in October ahead of winter. The Russian strikes failed to The strikes failed to paralyse the power grid but led to major power outages. Russia has constantly denied targeting civilians. Russia made the air strikes on Thursday a day after it accused Ukraine of making a failed attempt to assassinate President Vladimir Putin through a drone attack over the Kremlin citadel in Moscow and said that it would retaliate. Since then, Moscow has accused Washington of being involved in the assassination plan but the allegations were denied by both the United States and Ukraine. The drone and missile attacks over regions of Ukraine have been intensified by Russia in the past week as Kyiv prepares for a counter-offensive against the Russian army who have dug in across occupied land in the south and east. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Explained | Ukraine downs Russia’s hypersonic Kinzhal missile. Here’s all you need to know

Russian president drew parallels between the Soviet Union's fight in World War II and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. He compared the fighting to Nazi Germany's invasion and hinted that Moscow could use nuclear weapons.

Russian President vows victory in Ukraine

Russian President draws parallel between WWII, Ukraine War

Russia has launched a wave of offensives in multiple Ukrainian cities. President Zelesnky has urged the West to speed up sending the promised weapons. He is also trying to get Russia banned from Paris Olympics 2024. Molly Gambhir reports.

Gravitas: Zelensky calls for Russia to be banned from Paris Olympics

On Thursday morning, Ukrainians woke up to the sound of blaring alarms as Russia rained missiles down. Were these strikes in response to the West's promise to send tanks to Ukraine? Molly Gambhir reports.

Gravitas: 'They fired 55 Missiles' says Ukraine on air raids

Russia on Saturday (January 28) claimed that at least 14 people were killed and 24 were injured in the Ukrainian strike in the eastern Lugansk region. The Russian defence ministry said that the strikes were at a hospital.

Moscow: 14 killed in Ukraine Strike on a hospital

Russia said it saw the promised delivery of Western tanks to Ukraine as evidence of direct and growing U.S. and European involvement in the ongoing conflict.

Russia steps up strikes across Ukraine

Large areas of eastern Ukraine were experiencing electricity cuts, Ukrainian officials said, across regions after attack by Russian troops. Watch further to know more.

Ukraine witness emergency blackouts after Russian strikes

Russia said its forces had wrested control of the war-scarred town of Soledar in east Ukraine. Kyiv has denied the Moscow's claim and said that severe fighting was on in the nearly completely destroyed town that is now the epicentre of the war.

Ukraine denies to Russia's claim, says severe fighting in Soledar

Russia claims to have captured Ukraine's Soledar town. It's a claim Ukraine denies. Molly Gambhir tells you what makes Soledar a strategic town.

Gravitas: Russia claims to have captured another town in Ukraine

A Russian warship armed with weapons held exercises in the Norwegian Sea. President Vladimir Putin sent the frigate to the Atlantic Ocean armed with new-generation hypersonic cruise missiles. Watch further to know more.

Russian Warship holds drill in Norwegian sea

After waging a war for more than eleven months, Russian president Vladimir Putin is suddenly concerned about festivities. He has ordered a 36-hour ceasefire on the Ukrainian front lines on account of orthodox Christmas. But Ukraine has rejected the truce after labelling it as a ploy. Priyanka Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: Kyiv slams Moscow's orthodox Christmas ceasefire

As the war in Ukraine marks its grueling 10 months, shelling in Ukraine's Kherson continues to destroy the city. Russia hit Ukraine with a barrage of missiles, leaving much of country in the dark.

Ukraine War: Heavy Russian shelling rains down on Kherson

Russian Defense claims to downed Ukrainian drone which killed three military personnel. The drone was shot down which then crashed over a military base in Russia's southwestern Saratov region. Watch further to know more.

Moscow: Blast at Russian Base kills three people

President Vladimir Putin of Russia visited to Belarus. Putin’s visit took place as Russia continued its nighttime bombardment campaign against Ukraine.

WION VOA: Russian President Putin visits Belarus

The Russian government stated that the Patriot missile systems which will be supplied to Ukraine by the United States, as announced during a visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to Washington on Wednesday, will not contribute to settling the war between Kyiv and Moscow, and won't stop Russia from achieving its targets.

Gravitas Global Headlines: Russia lashes out on U.S. for massive aid to Ukraine

Kremlin alleges US of waging ‘indirect war’ against Russia post-Zelensky visit

Amid heaviest days of fighting rage in Ukraine, teams of army doctors near the front line can carry out five amputations at a time as they try to save limbs and lives.

Ukrainian army doctors fight to save lives on front line

Ukraine's Odesa port is not operating after Russian drones to hit two energy facilities. This has left 1.5 million people without power in the city. Watch further to know more.

Russian drones smash power network in Ukraine's Odesa

Russian President Vladimir Putin has clarified that they would not strike first. He also said that Russia will under no circumstances use them first. Watch more.

Peter Zalmayek, Director of Eurasia Democracy Initiative speaks up on Putin's remark on nukes

Russia and Ukraine are wrapped in a tussle with both holding the other responsible for attacks. Russia hit Ukraine with a barrage of missiles, leaving much of country in the dark.

Russia fires barrage of missile across Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that the country is switching to emergency shutdowns to stabilise its power grid after fresh Russian missile attacks. Now the question is, how far are the two sides from negotiations?

Russia hits Ukraine power grid with more missiles

NATO allies would help Ukraine repair energy infrastructure heavily damaged by Russian bombardments. NATO's chief said that Moscow using the descending winter cold as "a weapon of war".

NATO to boost its support to Ukraine amid Russian strikes

Turkiye's defence minister held a meeting with the commander-in-chief for the armed forces on Monday. According to the Turkiye's officials, Turkish army needs just a few days to be ready for ground operations into northern Syria.

Turkish forces nearly ready for a Syrian incursion -officials

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