International
Israel expands Gaza ground offensive
Israel expands Gaza ground offensive
The Israeli military said Sunday its ground offensive had expanded to every part of Gaza, and it ordered more evacuations in the crowded south while vowing that operations there against Hamas would carry “no less strength” than its shattering ones in the north.
Heavy bombardment followed evacuation orders, and Palestinians said they were running out of places to go in the sealed-off territory bordering Israel and Egypt. Many of Gaza’s 2.3 million people are crammed into the south after Israel ordered civilians to leave the north in the early days of the war, which was sparked by the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attack in Israel that killed about 1,200, mostly civilians.
The United Nations estimates that 1.8 million Palestinians in Gaza have been displaced. Nearly 958,000 of them are in 99 U.N. facilities in the south, said Juliette Toma, director of communications at the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees.
After dark, gunfire and shelling were heard in the central town of Deir al-Balah as flares lit the sky. In Gaza’s second-largest city of Khan Younis, Israeli drones buzzed overhead. U.N. human rights chief Volker Türk urged an end to the war, saying civilian suffering was “too much to bear.”
The Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said the number of people killed there since Oct. 7 has surpassed 15,500, with more than 41,000 wounded. The ministry does not differentiate between civilian and combatant deaths, but said 70% of the dead were women and children.
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A Health Ministry spokesman asserted that hundreds had been killed or wounded since a weeklong cease-fire ended Friday. “The majority of victims are still under the rubble,” Ashraf al-Qidra said.
Fears of a wider conflict intensified. A U.S. warship and multiple commercial ships responded to distress signals from container ships in the Red Sea, the Pentagon said. Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed attacks on two ships they described as being linked to Israel but did not acknowledge targeting a U.S. vessel.
Hopes for another temporary truce in Gaza were fading. The cease-fire facilitated the release of dozens of the roughly 240 Gaza-held Israeli and foreign hostages in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. But Israel has called its negotiators home and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the war will continue until “all its goals” are achieved. One is to remove Hamas from power in Gaza.
Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan said resuming talks with Israel on further exchanges must be tied to a permanent cease-fire.
White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told “Face the Nation” on CBS News that the U.S. is “trying to work hour by hour to see if we can get this pause reinstated and get those hostages out.”
“While the pause has been lifted, and no hostage exchanges are going on, what is still going on, importantly, is humanitarian assistance getting in, including fuel, which is critical,” Kirby added.
Israel’s military widened evacuation orders in and around Khan Younis in the south, telling residents of at least five more areas to leave. Residents said the military dropped leaflets calling Khan Younis “a dangerous combat zone” and ordering them to move to the border city of Rafah or a coastal area in the southwest.
But Halima Abdel-Rahman, a widow and mother of four, said she won’t heed such orders anymore. She fled her home in October to an area outside Khan Younis, where she stays with relatives.
“The occupation tells you to go to this area, then they bomb it,” she said by phone. “The reality is that no place is safe in Gaza. They kill people in the north. They kill people in the south.”
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The United States, Israel’s closest ally, has urged Israel to avoid significant new mass displacement and do more to protect civilians. U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris told Egypt’s president that “under no circumstances” would the U.S. permit the forced relocation of Palestinians from Gaza or the West Bank, an ongoing siege of Gaza or the redrawing of its borders.
On the ground in Gaza, there was fear and mourning. Outside a Gaza City hospital, a dust-covered boy named Saaed Khalid Shehta dropped to his knees beside the bloodied body of his little brother Mohammad, one of several bodies laid out after people said their street was hit by airstrikes. He kissed him.
“You bury me with him!” the boy cried. A health worker at Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital said more than 15 children were killed.
Israel’s military said its fighter jets and helicopters struck targets in Gaza including “tunnel shafts, command centers and weapons storage facilities.” It acknowledged “extensive aerial attacks in the Khan Younis area.”
The bodies of 31 people killed in bombardment of central Gaza were taken to the Al-Aqsa hospital in Deir al-Balah, said Omar al-Darawi, a hospital administrative employee. One woman wept, cradling a child’s body. Another carried the body of a baby. Later, hospital workers reported 11 more dead after another airstrike. Bloodied survivors included a child carried in on a mattress.
Outside a hospital morgue in Khan Younis, resident Samy al-Najeila carried the body of a child. He said his sons had been preparing to evacuate their home, “but the occupation didn’t give us any time. The three-floor building was destroyed completely, the whole block was totally destroyed.” He said six of the bodies were his relatives.
“Five people are still under the rubble,” he said. “God help us.”
In a video from the same crowded al-Nasser hospital, UNICEF spokesperson James Elder said: “I feel like I’m almost failing in my ability to convey the endless killing of children here.”
Israel says it does not target civilians and has taken measures to protect them, including its evacuation orders. In addition to leaflets, the military has used phone calls and radio and TV broadcasts to urge people to move from specific areas.
Israel says it targets Hamas operatives and blames civilian casualties on the militants, accusing them of operating in residential neighborhoods. It claims to have killed thousands of militants, without providing evidence. Israel says at least 78 of its soldiers have been killed.
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Kirby said that the U.S. is in discussion with Israel “about being careful, precise and deliberate in their targeting and trying to minimize civilian casualties to the maximum extent possible.”
“I think it’s also important for people to remember what they’re up against here. Hamas deliberately shelters themselves inside residential buildings, hospitals and schools,” Kirby said when asked by “Face the Nation” host Margaret Brennan if the White House has established “red lines” in the terms of U.S. military aid to Israel.
“It’s an added burden that Israel has as a modern military, we recognize that, but it’s also a very difficult burden and obstacle for them to overcome,” Kirby said.
The widening offensive likely will further complicate humanitarian aid to Gaza. Wael Abu Omar, a spokesman for the Palestinian Crossings Authority, said 100 aid trucks entered Sunday, but U.N. agencies have said 500 trucks per day on average entered before the war.
The renewed hostilities also heightened concerns for the 137 hostages the Israeli military believes are still being held by Hamas. During the recent truce, 105 hostages were freed, and Israel released 240 Palestinian prisoners. Most of those released by both sides were women and children.
Elsewhere in the region, Lebanon’s militant Hezbollah group said it struck Israeli positions near the tense Lebanon-Israel border. Eight soldiers and three civilians were wounded by Hezbollah fire in the area of Beit Hillel, army radio reported. The military said its artillery struck sources of fire from Lebanon and its fighter jets struck other Hezbollah targets.
Iraqi militants with the Iran-backed umbrella group the Islamic Resistance in Iraq said they struck the Kharab al-Jir U.S. military base in Syria with rockets. A U.S. military official, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with regulations, said rockets hit Rumalyn Landing Zone in Syria but there were no reports of casualties or damage.
Later Sunday, officials with Iranian-backed militias in Iraq said five militia members were killed in an airstrike blamed on the U.S. near Kirkuk. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly. U.S. military officials could not immediately be reached for comment. for comment.
Israel expands Gaza ground offensive
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International
Iran Unveils ‘We Will Kill Trump’ Billboard in Tehran Amid Rising Tensions With US
Iran has unveiled a massive billboard in its capital, Tehran, bearing the threatening message “We Will Kill Trump”, in an escalation of anti-American rhetoric amid heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington.
The billboard, displayed above the busy Enghelab Square on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, depicts US President Donald Trump behind prison bars with his head bowed beneath the threatening inscription.
The development comes as the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel continues to generate tensions across the Middle East, despite renewed diplomatic efforts to prevent a fresh escalation of hostilities.
According to reports by the Agence France-Presse (AFP), another billboard displayed nearby features Trump, US Vice-President JD Vance, American special envoy Steve Witkoff and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with bloodied faces and torn suits against the backdrop of damaged American and Israeli flags.
Iran Unveils ‘We Will Kill Trump’ Billboard in Tehran Amid Rising Tensions With US
Dozens of people gathered around Enghelab Square, waving red flags and carrying banners bearing messages such as “There Will Be Blood”.
The gathering also featured calls for revenge over the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in US-Israeli attacks on February 28, 2026, which triggered the current regional conflict.
The latest displays are part of a series of anti-American and anti-Israeli messages that have appeared across Tehran since the outbreak of the war.
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In recent days, an open-air exhibition at Tajrish Square in northern Tehran has also featured paintings portraying Trump in humiliating situations.
One of the artworks depicts the US President lying bloodied on the ground with a foot pressing against his head, while another shows a bomb obscuring his face.
A life-sized replica of a prison cell has also been installed at the exhibition, with an actor impersonating Trump sitting inside. A nearby screen reportedly displays images of destruction caused by US military strikes in Iran.
Iranian authorities have accused Trump of deliberately targeting civilian facilities during the conflict, including a school and a wedding ceremony, allegedly killing dozens of people.
The billboard campaign comes amid renewed diplomatic efforts to bring Washington and Tehran back to negotiations and prevent fighting from resuming across the region.
Trump, speaking ahead of the November 3 US midterm elections, has indicated that an agreement with Iran remains possible, saying a deal “could happen”.
The conflict has also contributed to rising global economic uncertainty, particularly in energy markets, amid concerns over disruptions to oil supplies and shipping routes.
Iran has a long history of using state-sponsored murals, billboards and public exhibitions to communicate political messages, celebrate military figures and express opposition to foreign governments, particularly the United States and Israel.
The latest billboard, however, stands out for its explicit threat against the American President at a time when diplomatic efforts are continuing to prevent another escalation of the conflict.
Iran Unveils ‘We Will Kill Trump’ Billboard in Tehran Amid Rising Tensions With US
International
Tourist Killed, Three Injured as Two Helicopters Collide Near Mount Everest in Nepal
A 47-year-old Indian tourist has been killed and three other people injured after two helicopters collided while attempting to land in Nepal’s Mount Everest region.
The accident occurred at approximately 8:11 a.m. local time on Tuesday at the helipad in Pheriche, Solukhumbu district, when helicopters operated by Fishtail Air and Air Dynasty collided during their landing approach.
The deceased was identified as Vasanth Kumar Balaramaramudu, an Indian national from Tamil Nadu, who was travelling aboard the Fishtail Air helicopter.
Three other people, including the pilots of both aircraft, sustained injuries in the collision.
They were identified as Shailesh Krishna Patel, a 49-year-old New Zealand citizen of Indian origin, and the two pilots, Rabindra Prajapati and Prajal KC.
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According to local authorities, the injured passenger and one of the pilots were airlifted to Mediciti Hospital in Kathmandu for treatment, while the other pilot received medical attention in Lukla.
The body of the deceased tourist was also transported to Lukla following the accident.
Reports indicated that the helicopters were attempting to land at the same helipad when their rotor blades struck each other, causing the collision.
The Fishtail Air helicopter was carrying tourists who had been rescued from the Everest region, while the Air Dynasty aircraft was reportedly transporting cargo and had no passengers aboard.
The incident has drawn attention to aviation safety in Nepal, where helicopters play a crucial role in transporting tourists, climbers and supplies across the mountainous Himalayan region.
Pheriche is a major stop for trekkers and mountaineers travelling towards Mount Everest Base Camp. The area is particularly dependent on helicopter services because of its difficult terrain and limited road access.
Helicopters are frequently used to evacuate climbers and trekkers who become ill, exhausted or stranded at high altitudes, as well as to transport essential supplies.
The accident occurred during Nepal’s peak trekking season, when thousands of visitors travel to the Everest region.
Authorities have commenced investigations to establish the circumstances surrounding the collision and determine what led to the two helicopters making contact during their landing manoeuvres.
Tourist Killed, Three Injured as Two Helicopters Collide Near Mount Everest in Nepal
International
US Strikes Iran’s Qeshm Island as Tensions Escalate Around Strait of Hormuz
US Strikes Iran’s Qeshm Island as Tensions Escalate Around Strait of Hormuz
The United States has carried out fresh military strikes on Iran’s strategically important Qeshm Island, raising fears of renewed escalation in the conflict between Washington and Tehran amid mounting tensions around the Strait of Hormuz.
The strikes, conducted on Monday, November 2, 2026, reportedly targeted Iranian military installations, including missile launchers and radar systems, according to US officials cited by international media.
The operation was described by American officials as a limited defensive action intended to prevent Iranian forces from threatening US military assets and commercial vessels navigating the strategic waterway.
According to reports by Reuters and The Wall Street Journal, the strikes followed an incident in which Iranian forces allegedly fired surface-to-air missiles at an American aircraft operating in the region.
A US official also said American forces intercepted another Iranian missile launched from Qeshm Island towards commercial shipping.
The Pentagon referred enquiries about the operation to the US Central Command, which had not publicly provided details of the strikes as of Tuesday.
Iranian state media subsequently reported several explosions on Qeshm Island and in the nearby coastal city of Bandar Lengeh.
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The Iranian state news agency, IRNA, reported that the explosions occurred late Monday, with witnesses claiming to have seen aircraft flying over the island.
However, Iranian authorities had not provided a confirmed account of the extent of the damage or possible casualties.
The latest military operation comes after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed to have intercepted three American drones operating near the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian state media reported that two reconnaissance drones were brought down south of Qeshm Island using electronic warfare systems, while another MQ-9 drone was allegedly destroyed east of the strait.
The claims had not been independently verified, and the US military had not publicly confirmed the alleged losses.
Qeshm Island occupies a strategic position near the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important maritime routes for crude oil and natural gas shipments.
The waterway connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, making it a critical passage for international energy supplies.
Before the conflict, approximately one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies passed through the strait.
Military confrontations around the area have already disrupted commercial shipping, raising concerns about the security of oil tankers and the potential consequences for global energy markets.
The latest strikes also come against the backdrop of diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, which began in late February 2026.
Despite the military developments, US President Donald Trump has played down the possibility of renewed large-scale fighting, suggesting that a diplomatic agreement with Tehran could be within reach.
Trump said on Monday that Iran wanted a settlement and expressed optimism that negotiations could produce an agreement.
Vice-President JD Vance also indicated that Washington believed progress was being made towards a possible negotiated settlement.
Iran, however, has maintained that any agreement must address the American naval blockade of its ports and guarantee an end to hostilities.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran had communicated its conditions to Washington, adding that the United States must respond to its proposals.
Iran also indicated that its proposal for reopening the Strait of Hormuz could be implemented within two days if Washington met its conditions.
The latest strikes have nevertheless exposed the fragile nature of the diplomatic efforts, with military confrontations continuing even as both sides signal interest in negotiations.
The development has also unsettled international oil markets, with crude prices rising in early Asian trading on Tuesday following reports of the American operation.
Brent crude futures rose by 0.5 per cent to $105.25 per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude increased by 0.5 per cent to $96.93 per barrel, according to Reuters.
Analysts warned that further military escalation around the Strait of Hormuz could increase the risk premium on oil prices and prolong disruptions to global energy supplies.
With Washington describing its latest operation as defensive and Tehran maintaining its military posture, uncertainty remains over whether diplomatic negotiations will prevent another round of direct confrontation.
US Strikes Iran’s Qeshm Island as Tensions Escalate Around Strait of Hormuz
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