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The head of an Iranian counter-intelligence unit tasked with identifying and weeding out undercover Israeli agents was himself a Mossad operative, a former Iranian president has revealed.

Speaking to CNN Turk, former Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, revealed that the head of a counter-intelligence unit specially assigned to target Mossad agents was himself exposed as a double agent back in 2021, with a further 20 agents in that team also having operated for Israeli intelligence.

According to Ahmadinejad, those double agents were behind a series of intelligence leaks and failures on the part of Iran over the years, providing Israel with sensitive information on matters, such as the Iranian nuclear program.

The alleged Mossad moles were reportedly able to flee Iran following their operations, and are now living in Israel.

The past day has seen a series of fresh Israeli assaults on Gaza, as the world's focus turns to Lebanon and the Iranian missile attack on Israel.

At least 79 Palestinians were killed in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday morning, according to medical sources, making it one of the deadliest mornings in the besieged enclave in weeks.

A new report by ActionAid released on Wednesday said that "Palestinian women have been disproportionately affected by the war in Gaza, experiencing extreme levels of stress, anxiety, and trauma.

"Constant displacement has placed women in a perpetual state of instability, with one 16-year-old girl stating, 'We don't know where to go to find security.'"

Ben Shapiro, Jake Tapper, and Dana Bash have and continue to use their platforms to display their support for Israel, hostage families,

Ben Shapiro is a prominent conservative commentator, lawyer, and author. He co-founded The Daily Wire, a media company that has become a significant platform for conservative viewpoints. Amid the Israel-Hamas War, Shapiro has been a staunch defender of Israel. He actively participated in university debates, addressing the complexities of the conflict and condemning Hamas’s actions.

Jake Tapper is CNN’s lead Washington anchor and the host of The Lead with Jake Tapper. Known for his rigorous journalism and commitment to truth, Tapper has covered major events and interviewed key figures throughout his career. Since the Israel-Hamas War was in the spotlight of global media, Tapper provided a platform for Israeli hostage families on his show, allowing them to share their stories and raise awareness about their plight.

Dana Bash is CNN’s chief political correspondent, recognized for her in-depth reporting and insightful analysis of American politics. During the Israel-Hamas War, Bash interviewed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in March, pressing him on the issue of allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Dozens of Palestinians are reported to have been killed as Israel has stepped up its military operations across Gaza.

Gaza’s Health Ministry reported on Wednesday that at least 51 people had been killed in the enclave over the previous 24 hours, as the Israeli military has stepped up attacks alongside its ongoing air and ground offensive in Lebanon.

Israeli fighter jets attacked Gaza City overnight, striking the Muscat School in the Tuffah neighbourhood and the Al-Amal Orphanage in the west of the capital. At least nine displaced people sheltering at the locations were killed, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa.

France, Greece, Italy and Poland will vote on Friday for tariffs of up to 45% on imports of electric vehicles (EVs) made in China, officials and sources said, enough to get the European Union proposal passed in a move likely to increase trade tensions with Beijing.

The European Commission, which is conducting an anti-subsidy investigation into EVs made in China, has sent its proposal for final tariffs to the EU's 27 member states ahead of a vote expected on Friday.

Under EU rules, the Commission can impose final or "definitive" tariffs for the next five years unless a qualified majority of 15 EU countries representing 65% of the EU's population votes against the plan.

France, Greece, Italy and Poland will vote in favour, officials and sources of those countries said. Together, they represent 39% of the EU population.

Hezbollah said on Wednesday that its fighters were clashing with Israeli troops attempting to infiltrate a southern Lebanese town, after earlier pushing back an attempted infiltration elsewhere.

Hezbollah "is engaged in ongoing clashes with the Israeli enemy's soldiers who infiltrated the village of Maroun al-Ras from the east", the group said in a statement, adding that several Israeli troops were killed and wounded in the battle.

The Israeli military said a team commander in the Egoz Commando Unit was killed in combat in Lebanon on Wednesday, marking the first loss it confirms since its forces crossed the border.

Hezbollah also said it fought off an attempted infiltration by Israeli infantry forces into the town of Odaisseh in the morning, on the eastern boundary with Israel, inflicting losses and forcing the unit to retreat.

The Lebanese army said in a statement that Israeli forces breached the demarcation line between Lebanon and Israel, known as the Blue Line, moving around 400m into Lebanese territory and then withdrew a short time later.

Israel's foreign minister announced Wednesday that U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres has been declared "persona non grata" and barred from entering Israel.

Foreign Minister Israel Katz accused Guterres of bias, citing his failure to condemn Iran's recent attack on Israel.

"Anyone who cannot unequivocally condemn Iran's heinous attack on Israel does not deserve to step foot on Israeli soil."

"This is an Israel-hating Secretary-General, who gives support to terrorists," he said.

“There will be severe consequences for this attack and we will work with Israel to make that the case,” Sullivan said during a press briefing at the White House hours after Iran launched some 180 ballistic missiles at Israel.

“Make no mistake, the United States is fully, fully, fully supportive of Israel,” the US president stressed.

Biden monitored the attack with US Vice President Kamala Harris from the Situation Room, and the pair held another meeting earlier Tuesday after the US received intelligence that an attack was imminent — information that was quickly shared with Israel.

She slammed the “reckless and brazen” Iranian missile attack, which further demonstrates that Tehran is a “destabilizing, dangerous force” in the Middle East.

CNN has reported that Israel’s Mossad headquarters are located in a “densely populated area” in Tel Aviv, posing risks to civilians during Iran’s attack.

“The concern is if your firing, even though Iran might consider that a military target, it is in a densely populated city with civilians around it," CNN reported.

The remarks raised questions on social media on why West did not accuse the intelligence agency of using Israeli civilians as "human shields", as they claim Hamas and Hezbollah do.