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Online travel market - statistics & facts

What is the size of the online travel market, which are the leading players in the ota market, what travel products do consumers book online, key insights.

Detailed statistics

Online travel market size worldwide 2017-2028

Distribution of sales channels in the travel and tourism market worldwide 2018-2028

Most popular travel and tourism websites worldwide 2024

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Current statistics on this topic.

Online Travel Market

Market cap of leading online travel companies worldwide 2023

Related topics

Online travel trends.

• Digitalization of the travel industry
• Impact of technology on travel and tourism
• Artificial intelligence (AI) use in travel and tourism
• Mobile travel trends

Online travel companies

• Booking Holdings Inc.
• Expedia Group, Inc.

Trip.com Group

Tripadvisor, travel and tourism worldwide.

• Tourism worldwide
• COVID-19: impact on the tourism industry worldwide
• Impact of inflation on travel and tourism worldwide
• Travel agency industry

Recommended statistics

Industry overview.

• Premium Statistic Market size of the tourism sector worldwide 2011-2024
• Premium Statistic Travel and tourism revenue worldwide 2019-2028, by segment
• Premium Statistic Distribution of sales channels in the travel and tourism market worldwide 2018-2028
• Premium Statistic Online travel market size worldwide 2017-2028
• Premium Statistic Revenue of the travel apps industry worldwide 2017-2027
• Premium Statistic Forecast EV/Revenue ratio in the online travel market 2024, by segment
• Premium Statistic Forecast EV/EBITDA ratio in the online travel market 2024, by segment

Market size of the tourism sector worldwide 2011-2024

Market size of the tourism sector worldwide from 2011 to 2023, with a forecast for 2024 (in trillion U.S. dollars)

Travel and tourism revenue worldwide 2019-2028, by segment

Revenue of the global travel and tourism market from 2019 to 2028, by segment (in billion U.S. dollars)

Revenue share of sales channels of the travel and tourism market worldwide from 2018 to 2028

Online travel market size worldwide from 2017 to 2023, with a forecast until 2028 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Revenue of the travel apps industry worldwide 2017-2027

Revenue of the travel apps market worldwide from 2017 to 2027 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Forecast EV/Revenue ratio in the online travel market 2024, by segment

Forecast enterprise value to revenue (EV/Revenue) ratio in the online travel market worldwide in 2024, by segment

Forecast EV/EBITDA ratio in the online travel market 2024, by segment

Forecast enterprise value to EBITDA (EV/EBITDA) ratio in the online travel market worldwide in 2024, by segment

Online bookings

• Premium Statistic Travel product online bookings in the U.S. 2023
• Premium Statistic Travel product online bookings in Canada 2023
• Premium Statistic Travel product online bookings in the UK 2023
• Premium Statistic Travel product online bookings in China 2023
• Premium Statistic Travel product online bookings in India 2023
• Premium Statistic Importance to book a trip fully online among travelers worldwide 2023, by generation

Travel product online bookings in the U.S. 2023

Travel product online bookings in the U.S. as of December 2023

Travel product online bookings in Canada 2023

Travel product online bookings in Canada as of December 2023

Travel product online bookings in the UK 2023

Travel product online bookings in the UK as of December 2023

Travel product online bookings in China 2023

Travel product online bookings in China as of December 2023

Travel product online bookings in India 2023

Travel product online bookings in India as of December 2023

Importance to book a trip fully online among travelers worldwide 2023, by generation

Share of travelers who think it is important to be able to book their trip entirely online worldwide as of July 2023, by generation

Market leaders

• Premium Statistic Revenue of leading OTAs worldwide 2019-2022
• Premium Statistic Marketing expenses of leading OTAs worldwide 2019-2022
• Premium Statistic Marketing/revenue ratio of leading OTAs worldwide 2019-2022
• Premium Statistic Number of employees at leading travel companies worldwide 2022
• Basic Statistic Market cap of leading online travel companies worldwide 2023
• Premium Statistic Number of aggregated downloads of leading online travel agency apps worldwide 2023
• Premium Statistic Most popular travel and tourism websites worldwide 2024

Revenue of leading OTAs worldwide 2019-2022

Leading online travel agencies (OTAs) worldwide from 2019 to 2022, by revenue (in million U.S. dollars)

Marketing expenses of leading OTAs worldwide 2019-2022

Marketing expenses of leading online travel agencies (OTAs) worldwide from 2019 to 2022 (in million U.S. dollars)

Marketing/revenue ratio of leading OTAs worldwide 2019-2022

Marketing to revenue ratio of leading online travel agencies (OTAs) worldwide from 2019 to 2022

Number of employees at leading travel companies worldwide 2022

Number of employees at selected leading travel companies worldwide in 2022

Market cap of leading online travel companies worldwide as of September 2023 (in million U.S. dollars)

Number of aggregated downloads of leading online travel agency apps worldwide 2023

Number of aggregated downloads of selected leading online travel agency apps worldwide in 2023 (in millions)

Most visited travel and tourism websites worldwide as of April 2024 (in million visits)

Booking Holdings

• Basic Statistic Revenue of Booking Holdings worldwide 2007-2023
• Premium Statistic Number of bookings through Booking Holdings worldwide 2010-2023, by segment
• Premium Statistic Operating income of Booking Holdings worldwide 2007-2023
• Premium Statistic Net income of Booking Holdings worldwide 2007-2023

Revenue of Booking Holdings worldwide 2007-2023

Revenue of Booking Holdings worldwide from 2007 to 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Number of bookings through Booking Holdings worldwide 2010-2023, by segment

Number of bookings through Booking Holdings worldwide from 2010 to 2023, by business segment (in millions)

Operating income of Booking Holdings worldwide 2007-2023

Operating income of Booking Holdings worldwide from 2007 to 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Net income of Booking Holdings worldwide 2007-2023

Net income of Booking Holdings worldwide from 2007 to 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Expedia Group

• Premium Statistic Revenue of Expedia Group, Inc. worldwide 2007-2023
• Premium Statistic Revenue of Expedia Group, Inc. worldwide 2017-2023, by business model
• Premium Statistic Operating income of Expedia Group, Inc. worldwide 2007-2023
• Premium Statistic Net income of Expedia Group, Inc. worldwide 2007-2023

Revenue of Expedia Group, Inc. worldwide 2007-2023

Revenue of Expedia Group, Inc. worldwide from 2007 to 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Revenue of Expedia Group, Inc. worldwide 2017-2023, by business model

Revenue of Expedia Group, Inc. worldwide from 2017 to 2023, by business model (in million U.S. dollars)

Operating income of Expedia Group, Inc. worldwide 2007-2023

Operating income of Expedia Group, Inc. worldwide from 2007 to 2023 (in million U.S. dollars)

Net income of Expedia Group, Inc. worldwide 2007-2023

Net income of Expedia Group, Inc. worldwide from 2007 to 2023 (in million U.S. dollars)

• Premium Statistic Airbnb revenue worldwide 2017-2023
• Premium Statistic Airbnb revenue worldwide 2019-2023, by region
• Premium Statistic Airbnb operations income worldwide 2017-2023
• Premium Statistic Airbnb net income worldwide 2017-2023

Airbnb revenue worldwide 2017-2023

Revenue of Airbnb worldwide from 2017 to 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Airbnb revenue worldwide 2019-2023, by region

Revenue of Airbnb worldwide from 2019 to 2023, by region (in billion U.S. dollars)

Airbnb operations income worldwide 2017-2023

Income from operations of Airbnb worldwide from 2017 to 2023 (in million U.S. dollars)

Airbnb net income worldwide 2017-2023

Net income of Airbnb worldwide from 2017 to 2023 (in million U.S. dollars)

• Premium Statistic Total revenue of Trip.com Group 2012-2022
• Premium Statistic Revenue of Trip.com 2012-2022, by product
• Premium Statistic Revenue of Trip.com 2017-2022, by region
• Premium Statistic Net profit of Trip.com 2012-2022

Total revenue of Trip.com Group 2012-2022

Total revenue of Trip.com Group Ltd. in China from 2012 to 2022 (in billion yuan)

Revenue of Trip.com 2012-2022, by product

Revenue of Trip.com Group Ltd. from 2012 to 2022, by product (in million yuan)

Revenue of Trip.com 2017-2022, by region

Revenue of Trip.com Group Ltd. from 2017 to 2022, by region (in million yuan)

Net profit of Trip.com 2012-2022

Net profit of Trip.com Group Ltd. from 2012 to 2022 (in million yuan)

• Premium Statistic Revenue of Tripadvisor worldwide 2008-2023
• Premium Statistic Revenue of Tripadvisor worldwide 2017-2023, by business segment
• Premium Statistic Revenue of Tripadvisor worldwide 2012-2023, by region
• Premium Statistic Operating income of Tripadvisor worldwide 2008-2023
• Premium Statistic Net income of Tripadvisor worldwide 2008-2023

Revenue of Tripadvisor worldwide 2008-2023

Revenue of Tripadvisor, Inc. worldwide from 2008 to 2023 (in million U.S. dollars)

Revenue of Tripadvisor worldwide 2017-2023, by business segment

Revenue of Tripadvisor, Inc. worldwide from 2017 to 2023, by business segment (in million U.S. dollars)

Revenue of Tripadvisor worldwide 2012-2023, by region

Revenue of Tripadvisor, Inc. worldwide from 2012 to 2023, by region (in million U.S. dollars)

Operating income of Tripadvisor worldwide 2008-2023

Operating income of Tripadvisor, Inc. worldwide from 2008 to 2023 (in million U.S. dollars)

Net income of Tripadvisor worldwide 2008-2023

Net income of Tripadvisor, Inc. worldwide from 2008 to 2023 (in million U.S. dollars)

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Data Insights

Leading travel intermediaries in the online travel theme.

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The future of the travel & tourism industry will be shaped by a range of disruptive themes, with online travel being one of the themes that will have a significant impact on travel intermediaries.  A detailed analysis of the theme, insights into the leading companies, and their thematic and valuation scorecards are included in GlobalData’s thematic research report,Online Travel, 2022 Update – Thematic Research.   Buy the report here .

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Related Company Profiles

Booking holdings inc, expedia group inc.

Globally, travellers are increasingly online and more mobile savvy than ever before. Concurrently, during 2015-2019, global online travel intermediaries (online travel agents, tour operators, and other providers) saw their market value experience rapid growth, at compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.3%. During 2021-2025, the online travel market value is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.1%, as travellers increasingly switch to online travel intermediaries over in-store travel agents.  

The needs of travellers are constantly evolving and as a result, online travel intermediaries will have to change and adapt to meet future demands. Within the online travel industry, there has been an increasing focus on personalisation by online market players as loyalty to a particular brand is being replaced by a traveller’s loyalty to their own preferences. In addition, social media has become a strategic channel for marketing and customer service. With this, Big Data, travel apps, artificial intelligence, and machine learning play a major role in online travel companies’ strategies, with leading players investing heavily in these areas.  

However, not all companies are equal when it comes to their capabilities and investments in the key themes that matter most to their industry. Understanding how companies are positioned and ranked in the most important themes can be a key leading indicator of their future earnings potential and relative competitive position.  

According to GlobalData’s thematic research report, Online Travel in Travel & Tourism , leading adopters include: Airbnb , Expedia , Booking Holdings, Despegar, TripAdvisor , MakeMyTrip , Trip.com, Seera, Intrepid Group, Flight Centre Travel Group and Jet2 .  

Insights from top ranked companies   

Airbnb  

Airbnb was once identified as a disruptor in the travel and tourism landscape but is now a major leader in the themes of online travel and personalisation. Active since 2008, the site now lists more than five million rooms, flats, and houses in almost every country across the globe. Early adoption in innovative technologies such as the cloud, AI, and Big Data have aided its successes in personalising content, driving satisfaction from both its customers and hosts on its online platform. 

Expedia  

Expedia Group is one of the world’s largest travel platforms. A combination of 16 brands, Expedia is a major online travel agency (OTA) that offers travellers an array of services that enable them to book or search for holiday packages, flights, hotels, rental cars, rail journeys, cruises, activities, attractions, and services. Consistently acquiring more businesses alongside forming partnerships with hotels and businesses, Expedia is a key leader within the online travel industry. Expedia Group Media Solutions, the digital marketing arm of Expedia Group, analyses first-party data to understand traveller behaviour, working in collaboration with destination management organisations (DMOs) and other stakeholders to provide actionable insights and creative campaigns. 

Booking Holdings  

Booking Holdings is recognised as one of the largest operating OTAs worldwide, providing services to customers and partners in over 220 countries and territories through its six-primary consumer-facing brands— Booking .com, Kayak, Priceline, Agoda, RentalCars, and OpenTable. The company has long been working towards creating the ‘connected trip’, a channel that focuses on curating traveller’s experiences through one central platform offering personalised and individual recommendations. 

To further understand the key themes and technologies disrupting the industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on Online Travel in Travel & Tourism .   

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Be better informed

GlobalData , the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.

GlobalData’s Thematic Scorecard ranks companies within a sector based on their overall leadership in the 10 themes that matter most to their industry, generating a leading indicator of their future earnings and relative position within key strategic areas.

Data Insights Online Travel, 2022 Update - Thematic Research

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We build unique partner-branded travel sites and offer strategies that focus on maximizing rewards, delivering value, and building customer loyalty for our partners. Rocket Travel by Agoda launched in 2013 as Rocketmiles.com to allow frequent fliers to earn miles and points from various loyalty programs when booking rooms. Since then, the team has grown to support our loyalty partners with data-driven travel technology solutions to reach their customer base.  



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- “Feel safe and relaxing place”

- “I really like that the room service is 24/7. The food was fantastic and very fast to arrive. The parking was easy, staff were lovely, rooms were sensational. Bedding very comfortable and the bath tub was perfect.”

- “Café da manhã! Restaurante no local”

- “Best breakfast ever had at hotel.”

- “It’s simply amazing! Such an old building with a soul, restored and redecorated in the original style. The heart of the owner and his persistence created a one of a kind place. I felt welcome and could relax and de-stress and I lingered for hours not wanting to leave this place.”

- “We had booked a king double as two individual travellers . We asked for two singles if possible and we’re given a great room with sofa bed made up .”

- “The rooms very lovely with every facility including iron and ironing board. Staff were exceptionally welcoming, especially the assistant maître d' (Jean Pierre?). Loved the pool.”

- “Location price and cleanliness”

- “Location, staff, facilities and the rooftop views were amazing”

- “Wifi and internet good, excellent experiences, beautiful staff and perfect location, one of the best property in Uluwatu”

- “Beautiful and HUGE room. Very well equipped. Helping and very nice hosts.”

- “The Restaurants, the customer services, the location, the room was spectacular.”

- “Star Residences is the best services apartment we have ever stayed in. The place is brand new, very comfortable and spotless. The staff is fantastic. There are great amenities - multiple tools, breakfast restaurant. Would love to stay here again and was not excited to leave. Highly recommended.”

- “Just a beautiful place to stay”

- “Very well managed hostel. The staffs are very informative and friendly. Location is great to see old town area.”

- “The location was perfect for our trip requirements..Centrally located to many beaches, Obidos, Tomar, Sintra, Cascais, Peniche, Nazare, Lisbon, several cave sites, dino trackway sites...so there was plenty to do. There was a little grocery store within walking distance of the Villa for day to day needs. It was easy to nagivate around the roads and highways, but you need a gps in the car or google maps, there are no street signs so don't rely on a map to navigate. The villa had AC and a full kitchen to work with, bedrooms were spacous and comfortable. The villa was very safe, clean and beautiful. We liked the self check in and out. We even took a dip in the small pool on the deck. Only about an hour from the airport in Lisbon. This was one of the best vactions we have had for ease of travel and sites to see. The accommodations were perfect for us. We met the owners and they were lovely. We loved feeding the goats and the chickens.”

- “hardworking kitchen lady’s delicious breakfasts, cleanliness, rooms, location,”

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Whitby , United Kingdom

Positive section of review

A wonderful little find in Whitby. Beautiful bungalow, decorated to highest standard, every facility you would need. Two bedrooms, bonus of two bathrooms, large lounge, lovely garden, parking for 2 cars. Lovely welcome card. Excellent communication from owners. Definitely going to return Thank you to the owners.

Negative section of review

Nothing, everything perfect.

Holyhead , United Kingdom

it was excellent value. Arriving late evening the manager/owner was helpful. The location being close to railway station was a big plus. Having a safe secure place to store my bike was reassuring. If you are on a tight budget, and on a cycle it is great place to stay

Having to wake the owner up so I could leave. He looked exhausted he also runs a taxi so he is probably working long hours. If he could arrange for a spare key so early starters could depart without disturbing him I sure it would help his rest

London , United Kingdom

Super convenient location, room big enough to swing a cat or two, comfy bed, surprisingly quiet.

Not an issue for us, but if you have issues carrying your luggage up three flights of stairs, this may not be the place for you.

Port Isaac , United Kingdom

Location is very good Food is very good Friendliness of staff very good

Struggled a little with steepness of stairs Car parking is not excellent

Aberaeron , United Kingdom

Quick and consise responses from Harbourmaster Customer Services

The booking at Harbourmaster was made via the Booking.com website primarily due a good review in one of the Which publications and the recent award to the Hotel. We are a party of three retired persons and the apartment accommodating up to 4 guests suited our needs and was booked and fully paid for 5 nights on a no refund basis. An interim confirmation was received immediately from Booking.com with an error in that the number of guests as 2 persons with a note that additional payment would required for extra guests. It required a number of emails to finally receive a correction issued by Harbourmaster but no acknowlwdgement or correction was issued by Booking.com. The reservation is for the end of September. A few days later we recived the formal confirmation from Harbourmaster only to find to our dismay that the accommodation was not situated at the award winning Harbourmaster Hotel but at a different address in Aberaeron. This information was conveniently omitted in the Booking.com description leaving us to assume that the apartment was also part of the Hotel as were other suites, double and single guest rooms. We emailed Harbourmaster and asked for confirmation of the location assuming an error had been made on the website but their response confirmed that the apartment was in another building with independent access using a key located in a key safe at the front door. We emailed several complaints to Booking.com that the location is not as described in the Booking.com listing. Their two response was that the apartment was in the main hotel and that check-in will be at the hotel reception. Having received a further confirmation from Harbourmaster that the apartment was not at the hotel we demanded a refund as it is a clear case of misrepresentation due to withheld information on the location of the apartment in the website and that we have no intention of ever staying in self catering accommodation. Our claim for a refund was rejected. Beware!

Good location, friendly and helpful staff, a great bar area.

Lighting in the room was awful. No electrical outlet in the bathroom, making it difficult to dry and style my hair.

Swindon , United Kingdom

The nearest of the area

Almondsbury , United Kingdom

It was clean and quiet

Nothing in particular just probably wouldn’t stay again, as money wise

Tenby , United Kingdom

Sheffield , United Kingdom

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Solo travel: the 'ultimate indulgence in 2024'

Why more of us are choosing to go on holiday on our own

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The number of holidaymakers choosing to go it alone is rising, whether in escorted groups, or independently. And it is an active choice, not forced by an inability to find a travelling companion. 

"Rather than a function of necessity or compromise, holidaying alone has become the ultimate indulgence in 2024: a rare chance in this ultra-demanding world to put one's own needs and priorities first," said the London Evening Standard .

"Regardless of life stage or relationship status", many more people are taking solo trips, "not because they have to – but because they want to", said the newspaper. 

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And one factor fuelling the independent travel trend may be an after-effect of the pandemic's enforced isolation, which "emboldened" people with a 'now or never' attitude", rendering them "more confident than ever about spending time in solitude".

And that solitude can have benefits for our wellbeing. Research by Netta Weinstein, a professor of psychology and clinical language sciences at the University of Reading, has shown that there is a big difference between imposed solitude and chosen solitude, reported The Guardian .

"Having space gives us time to connect with ourselves, and connecting with ourselves benefits our wellbeing," said Weinstein. A key factor appears to be the sense of autonomy we get from being alone. "What we found was that, on any given day when people felt autonomous and competent in solitude, they feel better on that day," she added.

According to an Abta report, 16% of travellers went on holiday by themselves in the year to August 2023, compared to 11% during the previous year, said Travel Weekly . In the 35-44 age group, the proportion of solo travellers more than doubled to 13% in 2023 from just 6% in 2022.

The main attraction of a solo trip is being able to do what you want, when you want. Being on your own is a "chance to really savour the world around you – at your own pace", said Annabelle Thorpe in The Observer . There are "no compromises to be made, no itineraries discussed; get up when you want, eat what you fancy, do nothing or everything, talk to the friendly person next to you at breakfast, or pop in your headphones and ignore them completely". 

And this freedom can bring a change in behaviour. "When I'm travelling alone, I become the best version of myself," said Thorpe: "the most decisive, the most charming, the most curious. I see more, go further, strike up conversations with people I'll never meet again, yet always remember."

And it's not just for single people. For those in a relationship, differing work patterns and destination preferences also play a part. "Like many women who travel alone, I have a partner, but his life is a lot less flexible than mine and he doesn't always want the kinds of breaks I do," said Joanna Moorhead in The Guardian.

Research by online travel agent Opodo.com in 2023 revealed that 41% of us prefer to travel alone, reported The Telegraph . "It puts us in control of decision-making", giving us the option "to linger for hours in a museum without our partners or children having a meltdown, or to undertake a lung-busting hike to the top of a mountain to be made small by nature when our close ones prefer the indoors". 

And apart from the sightseeing, solo travel "gives us tranquil time for personal reflection and growth".

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2024 eclipse one of many reasons flat Earth claims are nonsense | Fact check roundup

Tens of millions of Americans will watch as the moon passes between the sun and the Earth on April 8, completely blocking out daylight for minutes for those in the path of totality . The celestial show has launched a frenzy of paper glasses purchases and hotel reservations , and it serves as a perfect case-in-point for how scientists know the Earth, moon and sun move through space.

But it hasn't stopped some skeptics from continuing to believe the Earth is flat, a conspiracy theory experts say dangerously feeds into paranoia and spurs an unhealthy skepticism of all science and credible authorities.

The USA TODAY Fact-Check Team has debunked an array of flat Earth-related claims, including that Antarctica is really an ice wall around a flat Earth and the related conspiracy theory that space – and space travel – isn't real.

More: Surreal April 2024 total solar eclipse renews debunked flat Earth conspiracy theories

More : The 2024 total solar eclipse is in less than a week: How to get glasses; cloud forecast

The claim: NASA admits the Earth is flat and non-rotating

Our rating: False

NASA has consistently said the Earth is a round, rotating globe, and the documents referenced don't prove otherwise. The "flat, non-rotating earth" model is a common technique used to generalize mathematic equations, experts said.  Read more

More from the Fact-Check Team:  How we pick and research claims |  Email newsletter  |  Facebook page

The claim: Antarctica is an ice wall that surrounds the flat Earth

Antarctica is a continent in the Southern Hemisphere. Satellite data from NASA and independent companies shows the land mass as an island with a definitive end. Read more

The claim: Pictures show the Earth is flat, and sea levels haven’t changed

Scientists have ample evidence the Earth is curved, including images of the planet taken from outer space. And long-term tide gauge data shows that sea levels have risen in Sydney Harbor over the past century and continue to rise. Read more

The claim: Moon visible in the daytime proves Earth is flat

The Earth is not flat, it's spherical, as proven by photos from space and an array of observations and calculations that can be done from Earth. Planetary scientists say the visibility of the moon and sun during the daytime doesn't prove a flat Earth – it is in fact a reflection of the motion of the sun, moon and Earth in space, along with the Earth's rotation. The moon also does not emit its own light.  Read more

The claim: Radar technology wouldn’t work if the Earth was a globe

Scientists say that radar technologies account for the Earth’s curvature. Furthermore, the curvature of the Earth plays into some of the limitations of radar technology. An abundance of evidence demonstrates the Earth is spherical in shape – including images of the planet taken from outer space. Read more

The claim: Celestial navigation would be impossible if Earth is globe-shaped and orbits the sun

Celestial navigation is a technique still used to determine location based on the positions of celestial objects. Because the Earth and other celestial bodies are in motion, the apparent position of stars, planets and the sun in the sky changes. These changes must be taken into account for successful celestial navigation. Read more

The claim: Operation Highjump was a mission to find out what was beyond the 'ice wall' of Antarctica

Historical records show Operation Highjump was a naval operation conducted to establish a base in Antarctica. There is no evidence it was sent to investigate an "ice wall." There’s overwhelming evidence that Antarctica is a continent, not an ice wall. Read more

The claim: Post implies moon missions impossible because of Earth's atmospheric temperatures

Our rating: Missing context

The implied claim is wrong. Thermospheric temperatures do not melt spacecraft. While this layer of the atmosphere does technically reach the temperatures stated in the post, there are not enough air molecules in the thermosphere to transfer significant amounts of this heat to an object, according to researchers. Read more

The claim: Post implies Apollo missions didn't happen because lunar module can't travel between Earth and the moon

The implied claim is wrong. The Apollo 11 lunar module traveled through space after being propelled toward the moon by a powerful rocket. Astronauts made the journey in a different, attached module − called the command module. Astronauts only used the lunar module for transport between the moon and the orbiting command module. Read more

The claim: Post implies NASA space shuttle can't travel faster than jet due to its design

The implied claim is wrong. The NASA space shuttle travels much faster at top speeds than the SR-71. The space shuttle is launched with the aid of huge rocket boosters not shown in the photo and only reaches top speeds at elevations where there is virtually no air resistance. The SR-71 jet moves more slowly because it must reach its top speeds under its own power and against the friction of Earth's atmosphere. Read more

Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can  subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or e-newspaper here .

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• International

Israel-Hamas war

Trump hush money trial

SCOTUS arguments

April 11, 2024 - Israel-Hamas war

By Heather Chen , Antoinette Radford, Tori B. Powell , Aditi Sangal and Elise Hammond , CNN

Our live coverage of Israel's war on Hamas in Gaza has moved  here .

UN committee fails to reach consensus on full Palestinian membership, Security Council president says

From CNN’s Richard Roth and Michael Rios

A specialized UN committee failed to reach a consensus Thursday on Palestinian membership in the United Nations, according to the president of the UN Security Council.

Two-thirds of the committee members were in favor of moving on with membership, with many countries arguing that “Palestine fulfills all the criteria that are required” to be granted full state member status, Malta's Ambassador and Security Council President Vanessa Frazier said. 

She added that no one explicitly objected to the membership qualifications.

Frazier also said she would circulate a draft report on the deliberations as soon as Friday. If the committee doesn’t agree on the report, it could hold another meeting to iron out any differences.

Asked whether the process of deliberating Palestinian membership in the committee is now over, Frazier said, “Unless the next step of agreeing (to) the report of the committee warrants another meeting to iron out the differences, it’s not foreseen that there would be any further committee action.”

But she noted that any UN Security Council member can still table a resolution to vote on Palestinian membership at any time, regardless of the committee's report.

The US and Middle East brace for a possible Iran attack that could escalate the conflict. Here's the latest

From CNN staff

Concerns about a possible Iranian attack against Israel has prompted many diplomatic conversations around the globe.

Here are some developments on diplomacy around the threat of an attack:

• Iran's statement: The imperative for Tehran to "punish" Israel for the deadly strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus last week might have been avoided if the attack had been condemned at the United Nations, Iran’s Mission to the UN said Thursday.
• US and UK diplomacy: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with the foreign ministers of Turkey, China and Saudi Arabia on Wednesday night and Thursday morning to tell them that countries should be urging Iran not to escalate the conflict in the Middle East after  threats made by Tehran against Israel,  according to a State Department spokesperson. The top US general for the Middle East is also in Israel . Additionally, Britain's foreign secretary warned his Iranian counterpart on Thursday that Tehran “must not draw” the Middle East into a wider conflict .
• Israel receives US support: Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant spoke with Blinken and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. The US officials expressed the country's support for Israel against Iranian threats. Gallant warned that such an attack could lead to a regional escalation.
• Travel restrictions: The US State Department restricted the travel of US government personnel in Israel in the wake of public threats against Israel by Iran. “The security environment remains complex and can change quickly depending on the political situation and recent events,” the alert noted. US officials  are on high alert  for a potential retaliatory strike by Iran or its proxies against Israel.

Meanwhile, here's some other updates:

• Hamas on hostages: A member of Hamas' political bureau said   a prisoner-hostage exchange is being discussed as part of larger ceasefire negotiations. "Part of negotiations is to reach a ceasefire agreement to have enough time and safety to collect final and more precise data" on the hostages held in Gaza, Basem Naim said in a statement on Thursday. "Because they (hostages) are in different palaces, (being held) by different groups, some of them are under the rubble killed with our own people, and we negotiate to get heavy equipment for this purpose."
• Updates on aid to Gaza: It is clear that Israel is working to ramp up humanitarian aid to Gaza, but it has not yet implemented all of the measures it has announced, a top United Nations humanitarian official said. Aid coming in trucks from Israel has to be "segregated from water, from food, from medical items" before it goes into Gaza, said Jamie McGoldrick, the UN’s humanitarian coordinator in Jerusalem. “Getting 400 trucks from Kerem Shalom doesn't mean 400 trucks go into Gaza,” he said, adding that the logistical complications are numerous, and take time to resolve. He also said Israel’s restrictions on movement inside the strip complicate matters.

Anera charity resumes work in Gaza after pausing when Israeli strike killed 7 World Central Kitchen staff

From CNN's Tala Alrajjal and Mohammed Tawfeeq

American Near East Refugee Aid (Anera) has resumed Gaza operations "after a temporary pause" following an airstrike that killed seven World Central Kitchen (WCK) aid workers on April 1.

"As you know, the decision to temporarily pause our operations was not an easy one. We followed the direction of our staff in Gaza, who've faced death, loss, and destruction since the start of the war," Sean Carroll, the president and CEO of Anera, said in a statement on Thursday. "After the killing of Anera staff member Mousa Shawwa , followed by the attack that killed seven aid workers from World Central Kitchen, we made the difficult but necessary decision to pause aid operations on April 2," Carroll added in the statement.

Carroll said Israeli authorities informed him during a meeting Thursday that "certain measures would be taken to protect humanitarian aid workers in Gaza – including Anera's staff."

"With the full support of our Gaza team, we have determined that the circumstances have changed sufficiently to resume our vital humanitarian work in Gaza," Carroll said. 

Anera on Thursday resumed "full operations in Gaza to deliver meals, food parcels, hygiene kits, tents, medical treatments, and more to families in dire need," according to the statement.

Iran says its imperative to punish Israel could have been avoided had UN Security Council condemned attack

From CNN’s Natalie Barr and Adam Pourahmadi

The imperative for Tehran to "punish" Israel for the deadly strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus last week might have been avoided if the attack had been condemned at the United Nations, Iran’s Mission to the UN said Thursday.

“Had the UN Security Council condemned the Zionist regime’s reprehensible act of aggression on our diplomatic premises in Damascus and subsequently brought to justice its perpetrators, the imperative for Iran to punish this rogue regime might have been obviated," the  mission said on X.

The UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the attack on April 1, according to a statement from the UN spokesperson Stephan Dujarric. A Security Council discussion was held on April 2 to discuss the attack, but differences among members prevented any formal action or condemnation from taking place.

The United States is on high alert and actively preparing for a “significant” attack by Iran targeting Israeli or American assets in the region  in response to the strike in Damascus  that killed top Iranian commanders.

UK foreign secretary warns Iran not to draw Middle East into wider conflict

From CNN's Natalie Barr

Britain's foreign secretary warned his Iranian counterpart on Thursday that Tehran “must not draw” the Middle East into a wider conflict following a series of escalating threats made by Iran toward Israel.

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron told Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian that the United Kingdom was "deeply concerned about the potential for miscalculation leading to further violence. Iran should instead work to de-escalate and prevent further attacks," according to a post on X .

Iran's state-aligned Tasnim news agency on Thursday reported that Amir-Abdollahian had told Cameron that the silence from the UK and the United States following Israel’s attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus last week only served to encourage Israel to continue waging war in Gaza and expand its conflict in the region.

US and Israeli defense leaders discuss fears of Iranian attack

From CNN’s Michael Conte in Washington, DC, Tamar Michaelis in Jerusalem and Larry Register in Atlanta

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant today to “reaffirm the US ironclad commitment to Israel’s security against threats from Iran and its proxies,” according to a Pentagon spokesperson.

The call comes a day after Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Israel " must be punished and it will be" following a strike on an Iranian embassy compound in Syria that killed seven Iranian officials.

Israel “will not tolerate an Iranian attack on its territory,” the statement read, adding that the two defense leaders also discussed detailed preparations “for an Iranian attack against the State of Israel.”

Gallant said an Iranian attack on Israel could lead to a regional escalation.

It is the second discussion held between Gallant and Austin over the past week, according to the statement. Gallant expressed his appreciation for Austin’s personal commitment to the security of the State of Israel and for the deepening cooperation between the defense establishments of both countries, as well as between the Israel Defense Forces and US CENTCOM.

State Department restricts personnel travel in Israel amid concerns over Iranian threats

From CNN's Jennifer Hansler

The US State Department has restricted the travel of US government personnel in Israel in the wake of public threats against Israel by Iran.

“Out of an abundance of caution, U.S. government employees and their family members are restricted from personal travel outside the greater Tel Aviv (including Herzliya, Netanya, and Even Yehuda), Jerusalem, and Be’er Sheva areas until further notice,” a  security alert  posted by the US Embassy Thursday said. “U.S. government personnel are authorized to transit between these three areas for personal travel.” “The security environment remains complex and can change quickly depending on the political situation and recent events,” the alert noted.

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said he would not “speak to the specific assessments that led to us to restrict our employees and family members’ personal travel, but clearly we are monitoring the threat environment in the Middle East and specifically in Israel.”

“We have seen Iran making public threats against Israel in the past few days,” Miller said. “Israel is in a very tough neighborhood and we have been monitoring the security situation. You saw us slightly adjust for travel warnings at the beginning of this conflict and we conduct ongoing assessments all the time about the situation on the ground.”

US officials are on high alert for a potential retaliatory strike by Iran or its proxies against Israel.

Hamas says ceasefire with Israel is essential to collect data on hostages held in Gaza by different groups

From CNN's Abeer Salman and Mohammed Tawfeeq

A member of Hamas' political bureau said   a prisoner-hostage exchange is being discussed as part of larger ceasefire negotiations.

"Part of negotiations is to reach a ceasefire agreement to have enough time and safety to collect final and more precise data" on the hostages held in Gaza Basem Naim said in a statement on Thursday. "Because they (hostages) are in different palaces, (being held) by different groups, some of them are under the rubble killed with our own people, and we negotiate to get heavy equipment for this purpose," he added.

Naim's statement was in response to questions from media outlets about whether Hamas has been rejecting the latest proposal, which was made in Cairo over the weekend, because it can not release 40 hostages in the first phase of a three-stage ceasefire deal.

According to an Israeli official and a source familiar with the discussions, Hamas indicated it is currently unable to identify and track down those 40 Israeli hostages, raising fears that more hostages may be dead than are publicly known. 

CNN's record of the conditions of the hostages also suggests there are fewer than 40 living hostages who meet the proposed criteria.

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Ukraine-Russia war: Latest updates

Follow our Ukraine war live page for all the latest developments and analysis of the conflict. Listen to a Daily podcast episode on the notion of the UK putting troops on the ground in Ukraine as you scroll.

Tuesday 16 April 2024 13:05, UK

• The big picture: What's happening with the war as we enter a new week?
• Your questions answered: Is it too late to save Ukraine?

While we haven't been able to bring you live updates today, we have been keeping an eye on what's been happening in the Ukraine conflict. 

Here's a quick round-up of the key updates so far: 

• Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a lack of air defence missiles prevented Ukraine from thwarting a Russian missile attack last week that destroyed the biggest power plant in the region around the capital Kyiv; 
• Ukraine's air defence systems destroyed all nine drones launched in a Russian attack, the air force said;
• The IAEA warned that attacks on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant put the world at risk;
• The Kremlin reacted to French President Emmanuel Macron's call for a truce in international conflicts during the Paris Olympics and said Ukraine might use it as an opportunity to regroup and rearm;
• German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he had asked Chinese President Xi Jinping to exert influence over Russia to end the war in Ukraine.

Good morning, and welcome to our overview of the war between Russia and Ukraine as it rolls into another week.

The big news of the weekend came from the Middle East as Iran launched a significant missile and drone attack on Israel. Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack and said Ukraine knows "very well the horror of similar attacks by Russia".

Meanwhile, a Kremlin-installed official in the southern Zaporizhzhia region said 16 people were killed in an attack on the occupied town of Tokmak, which Russia has blamed on Ukraine. Two  people were also killed in a separate shelling in the Russian-occupied Kherson region.

While our live coverage remains paused, we've zoomed out to give you the bigger picture of the war today.

The frontline

Concerns appear to be increasing that Ukraine's defences may be at risk of collapse in the face of a new Russian assault. 

Sources in numerous media outlets over the past couple of weeks have raised this fear as Ukraine is facing shortages of both manpower and ammunition, and appears outmanned and outgunned on the battlefield.

Western officials told Bloomberg the country is now at its most fragile moment since the war began. 

Ukraine's military chief said on Saturday that the battlefield situation in the east had "significantly worsened in recent days" and that Moscow had ramped up its assaults since Vladimir Putin extended his rule in the Russian presidential election.

Reports also suggest Ukraine's second-largest city, Kharkiv, could be among the targets for a renewed Russian assault. 

Kharkiv has faced intense bombardment from Russia in recent months, coming under fire from S-300 ballistic missiles and glide bombs, and was the target of repeated attacks last week. 

The city is not the most likely target of a fresh assault, media reports say, but Russian news outlets have raised the prospect. 

'Massive strikes' on energy infrastructure 

Overnight into Thursday saw a huge assault on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, with 40 missiles and 40 drones reportedly sent into the country by Russia. 

A thermal power plant just outside Kyiv was completely destroyed and went up in flames, while 200,000 residents in Kharkiv were left without power. 

Vladimir Putin later said he had been "obliged" to attack Ukraine's energy infrastructure after Kyiv conducted attacks on Russian oil refineries.

Attacks at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant

Russia accused Ukraine of attacking the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in a series of drone strikes over three days. 

The attacks at the Russian-occupied plant began on 7 April, with the roof of reactor 6 damaged. 

Ukraine has repeatedly denied involvement and said it would never target a nuclear facility, suggesting Russia was behind the attacks.

The UN's nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, has warned the "reckless" attacks "significantly increase the risk of a major nuclear accident". 

It has not said who it believes is behind the attacks. 

Civilian casualties increase sharply

The UN recorded a dramatic increase in civilian casualties in Ukraine in the last month. 

At least 57 children were killed or injured in March - double the number in February - as Russian forces stepped up their attacks. 

The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission said it had verified at least 604 civilians killed or injured in Ukraine in March, a 20% increase from the previous month. 

"The March increase in civilian casualties was mainly due to attacks by the Russian armed forces using missiles and loitering munitions across Ukraine and increased aerial bombardments near the frontline," the Rights Office said.

It followed warnings from Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Ukraine country could run out of air defence missiles if Russia keeps up its intense bombing campaign. 

On Saturday, Uk

At least 10 people, including children, have been killed by shelling in a Russian-occupied town in Ukraine's southern Zaporizhzhia region, a local Kremlin-installed official said.

International diplomacy

In a rare meeting between a head of state and a minister, Chinese President Xi Jinping met Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov for talks on Monday. 

The pair met in the Chinese capital, where they pledged to strengthen communication. 

It was also a big week of diplomatic talks for the UK foreign secretary, who headed to Washington to appeal to Congress over the stalled multi-billion-dollar aid package for Ukraine. 

Lord Cameron made what was seen by some as an unusual trip to visit Donald Trump in Mar-a-Lago - likely because Republicans blocking the aid bill in the House of Representatives are aligned with Mr Trump. 

The foreign secretary was tight-lipped about what was discussed afterwards, saying the pair had "discussed a range of important geopolitical subjects". 

While live coverage of the war remains paused, here's a quick round-up of the key updates: 

• Two people were killed by Ukrainian strikes on the Russian-held parts of Kherson, the Moscow-installed regional governor said;
• Russia's defence ministry said its air defence systems destroyed 10 Ukraine-launched drones over the Krasnodar region in southern Russia and five drones over the Black Sea overnight; 
• Ukraine similarly claimed to have downed 10 Russian drones;
• The death toll in Zaporizhzhia from yesterday's attack, which Russia blames on Ukraine, rose to 16;
• President Zelenskyy condemned last night's attack by Iran on Israel.

A Ukrainian rocket also struck a machine-building plant in Russian-occupied Luhansk in eastern Ukraine, injuring three civilians, according to Moscow-based official Vladimir Rogov.

Meanwhile, Russia has claimed to have taken a village in Ukraine's Donetsk region. 

Russia's defence ministry said the capturing of Pervomaiske had improved its tactical position on the frontline. 

Ukraine's army chief has also warned the situation on the eastern front had deteriorated in recent days, with Moscow's forces intensifying its armoured assaults. 

Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi said battles were still raging for control of a village west of the devastated Bakhmut - an area that has seen some of the bloodiest fighting throughout the war.

We'll be back tomorrow morning with more updates on the war in Ukraine.

Two Biden administration officials have revealed the extent of China's involvement in Russia's war on Ukraine.

The officials spoke to Reuters news agency and said China has massively increased its sales to Russia of machine tools, microelectronics and other technology to Moscow.

These items are important because Russia is using them to make tanks, aircraft, missiles and other weapons for the war.

They also said:

• About 90% of Russia's microelectronics came from China
• Nearly 70% of Russia's approximately $900m in machine tool imports in the last quarter of last year came from China
• Chinese and Russian entities have been working together to make drones in Russia
• China is helping Russia improve its satellite and other space-based capabilities for use in the war. This could increase the threat Russia poses across Europe

US President Joe Biden has previously raised concerns with Chinese President Xi Jinping about Beijing's indirect involvement in the war.

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen returned this week from a visit to Beijing and said she had warned China that the Biden administration was prepared to sanction Chinese banks, companies and Beijing's leadership if they helped Russia's military in the war.

She has already been given the go-ahead from Mr Biden to sanction financial institutions that help Russia's military-industrial complex.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is due to travel to China for talks next month.

Russia, increasingly isolated economically and diplomatically, has become more reliant on China in recent months.

One official said Chinese materials are helping Moscow undertake its "most ambitious defence expansion since the Soviet era and on a faster timeline than we believed possible early on in this conflict".

"Our view is that one of the most game-changing moves available to us at this time to support Ukraine is to persuade the PRC (China) to stop helping Russia reconstitute its military industrial base. Russia would struggle to sustain its war effort without PRC input," the official said. 

Chinese Embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu told Reuters that Beijing has not provided weapons to any party and that it is "not a producer of or party involved in the Ukraine crisis".

"We urge the US side to refrain from disparaging and scapegoating the normal relationship between China and Russia."

If Russia defeats Ukraine it will be a "turning point in history", former UK prime minister Boris Johnson says.

Writing in the Daily Mail, he criticised Western countries for not providing Ukraine with the weapons it needs to defeat Russia.

"Every week in which we fail to do the obvious — and give the Ukrainians the weapons they need — is a week in which Putin gets closer to his disgusting ambition, to torture a European country to death.

"Every day the pressure on the Ukrainians is growing — and yet the solution is within our grasp."

Mr Johnson, who visited Ukraine a number of times during his premiership, said: "A defeat for Ukraine would usher in a new era of fear in the whole Euro-Atlantic area, as Putin continues his drive to rebuild the Soviet empire: from the Baltics to Georgia to Moldova to Central Asia to the Arctic.

"It will be a terrifying moment for the people of Taiwan and the clearest possible signal to China that the West has lost the willpower to protect democracy.

"It will be a turning point in history, the moment when the West finally loses its post-war hegemony, the moment when borders everywhere are suddenly up for grabs and aggression is seen to pay — and all because of a failure to stand up for Ukraine."

Mr Johnson warned the world is "on a knife-edge, with a real risk that Western democracies are about to be humiliated, and autocracies emboldened around the world — because of our lassitude, our pathetic refusal to do what is necessary".

He said Ukraine is so short of shells that its troops sometimes have to wait under Russian bombardment because they can't fire back.

The shortage of air defences means Kharkiv, the second-largest city, is "in danger of being turned into another Mariupol", he added.

Ukrainians were able to intercept 90% of incoming strikes, he said, but now "we are starving them, for reasons I do not understand, of the protective shields they need".

Mr Johnson called on the US Congress to approve a $60bn military aid package earmarked for Ukraine and on the Germans to supply Taurus missiles.

The West - including Britain - needs to "snap out of our sleep-walk", he said, adding: "The simplest and most cost-effective way to defend freedom is to invest now in the defence of Ukraine."

Rescue workers in Ukraine have saved five puppies from under the debris of a destroyed building.

The non-residential building was on fire in the north-eastern city of Sumy, close to the border with Russia.

A video from the State Emergency Service of Ukraine showed the firefighters cuddling the squealing puppies and rinsing them off with water.

In a post of the emergency service's Telegram channel, officials said the "little ones" were not injured.

"This rescue story reminds us of the importance of human compassion and the willingness to help everyone, regardless of the circumstances," they added.

Ex-armed forces minister James Heappey has told Sky's defence and security editor Deborah Haynes the UK should consider sending its forces to Ukraine to train troops.  

On the Sky News Daily, host Tom Cheshire talks to her and Sky's military analyst Professor Michael Clarke about the interview with Mr Heappey, who stepped down from his role last month.  

They assess the bleak situation in Ukraine and why the conflict is at a critical stage. They also discuss how prepared the UK would be if it faced a war in the near future.

A former Ukrainian secret service employee has been injured in Moscow after a device under his car exploded.

Vasily Prozorov suffered leg injuries that are not considered life threatening after the device detonated as he tried to start his car, Radio Free Europe cited Russian media as saying.

According to RFE, Mr Prozorov worked for Ukraine's SBU until 2018.

The following year, he told media in Moscow that he had collaborated with Russia "for ideological reasons" from April 2014 until he left the SBU.

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Iranian barrage of missiles and drones causes little damage, Israel says

What we know.

• Iran launched more than 300 cruise and ballistic missiles and drones at Israel, IDF officials said, a retaliatory attack weeks after an Israeli strike on the Iranian consular building in Syria killed two of Tehran’s top commanders.
• There were explosions visible in the air over Jerusalem as air sirens rang throughout the country.
• The U.S. and Israeli militaries shot down the “vast majority” of the missiles and dozens of attack drones. Some missiles struck a military base in the south, causing minor damage.
• A 10-year-old girl was severely injured by shrapnel, and about 31 people were treated for anxiety or injuries they sustained while heading to a protected area when sirens sounded.
• Iran said that after tonight's attack, the "matter can be deemed concluded" unless there is more violence.

This event has ended. Get the latest updates on Iran’s unprecedented attack on Israel here

Attack a 'grave threat to regional security,' E.U. foreign affairs chief says

Josep Borrell Fontelles, the U.N.'s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, said in a post on X that it strongly condemns the Iranian attack against Israel.

Israel reopens its airspace

Paul Goldman

Richie Duchon

The airspace over Israel was reopened at 7:30 a.m. local time Sunday, a spokesperson for Israel's airport authority said in a statement.

Flights out of Tel Aviv were likely to change, and travelers should check with airlines and on the airport authority's website for updates to flight schedules.

Domestic airports would remain open throughout the day, the statement said.

Iran launched over 300 projectiles, Israeli military says

Rudy Chinchilla

Israel intercepted 99% of the more than 300 projectiles launched by Iran, and is ready for “any further developments and scenarios,” Israel Defense Forces spokesman Daniel Hagari said.

Among the projectiles were some 30 cruise missiles, none of which made it into Israel, Hagari said. Only a “few” of the more than 120 ballistic missiles launched entered Israel, with the rest being intercepted, he added.

Some of the ballistic missiles hit the Nevatim airbase, but they caused only minor infrastructure damage, and the base remained operational, Hagari said.

Iraq and Yemen also carried out launches against Israel, but none made it into the country, the IDF spokesman said. He added that “dozens” of rockets were launched from Lebanon toward the north of Israel, though Israel suffered no injuries or deaths and hit back by striking different targets in Lebanon.

A 10-year-old girl was severely injured by shrapnel, but there were no immediate reports of other Israeli injuries or deaths, Hagari said.

“Iran did something very serious, very severe this night, as it pushed the Middle East toward escalation. We will do whatever is necessary in order to defend the citizens of the state of Israel,” he said.

Netanyahu issues first public statement

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued his first public comments since Iran's overnight attack, saying in a post on X, "We intercepted, we stopped. Together we will win."

U.S. destroyed 'dozens' of missiles and drones launched by Iran

Mosheh Gains

The U.S. military shot down "dozens" of missiles and drones en route to Israel, part of an "unprecedented" attack by Iran, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement late Saturday.

The aerial attacks by Iran were launched from Iran, Iraq, Syria and Yemen, he said.

"We condemn these reckless and unprecedented attacks by Iran and its proxies, and we call on Iran to immediately halt any further attacks, including from its proxy forces, and to deescalate tensions," Austin said in the statement. "We do not seek conflict with Iran, but we will not hesitate to act to protect our forces and support the defense of Israel."

Biden says he will coordinate a 'united diplomatic response' to Iran with G7 leaders

Doha Madani

President Joe Biden said he spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tonight, reaffirming the United States’ commitment to the security of Israel.

Military forces followed Biden's direction to help Israel take down nearly all of the incoming drones and missiles, the president said. He also praised the country's ability to fend off attacks as a sign to others who threaten the security of Israel.

"Tomorrow, I will convene my fellow G7 leaders to coordinate a united diplomatic response to Iran’s brazen attack," Biden said. "My team will engage with their counterparts across the region. And we will stay in close touch with Israel’s leaders."

Though no U.S. forces have been attacked, Biden said America will "remain vigilant to all threats." He condemned the Iranian regime's attack tonight in the "strongest possible terms."

U.N. Secretary General condemns Iranian attacks

António Guterres, United Nations secretary-general, condemned the Iranian attacks on Israel tonight in a statement expressing concern over the serious escalation in the Middle East.

"I am deeply alarmed about the very real danger of a devastating region-wide escalation," Guterres said. "I urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint to avoid any action that could lead to major military confrontations on multiple fronts in the Middle East."

Guterres also condemned the April 1 attack on Iran's diplomatic premises in Damascus the day after it occurred.

He did not name Israel in that statement, which has not taken responsibility for the strike. Guterres emphasized the protection of diplomatic buildings and urged "all parties to respect all their obligations under international law."

U.N. Security Council to meet tomorrow

Rebecca Cohen

Yasmeen Persaud

The United Nations Security Council will meet Sunday following a request to hold an emergency meeting from Israel’s ambassador to the U.N.

The ambassador, Gilad Erdan, asked the council to condemn Iran's attack on his country and to designate the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terror organization.

"The Iranian attack is a serious threat to global peace and security and I expect the Council to use every means to take concrete action against Iran," Erdan said in a post on X, which included the letter.

The meeting will take place at 4 p.m. ET, according to a U.N. schedule released tonight.

Iranian regime exercised 'its inherent right of self-defense' following diplomatic strike, foreign ministry says

The Iranian foreign ministry released a statement tonight reiterating its position that the strikes carried out against Israel were "in exercise of its inherent right of self-defense."

“The Islamic Republic of Iran would not hesitate to take further necessary defensive measures to protect its legitimate interests against any act of military aggression or unlawful use of force,” the statement said.

The ministry cited Article 51 of the United Nations charter and said that it was responded to Israeli's "recurring military aggressions," including the strike of Iran's diplomatic building in Syria earlier this mont.

The statement went on to say that its response was a "responsible approach" amid Israel's "apartheid" against Palestinians and "military aggressions" against neighboring states.

U.S. concerned Israel will respond to Iran without thought to potential fallout

Courtney Kube

Carol E. Lee Carol E. Lee is the Washington managing editor.

Some top U.S. officials are concerned Israel could do something quickly in response to Iran’s attacks without thinking through potential fallout afterward, according to a senior administration official and a senior defense official.

Those concerns stem in part from the administration’s views of the approach Israel has taken to its war against Hamas, as well as the attack in Damascus. 

President Joe Biden has privately expressed concern that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is trying to drag the U.S. more deeply into a broader conflict, according to three people familiar with his comments. 

The White House believes Israelis are not looking for a wider war or a direct war with Iran, but U.S. officials can’t be certain, the senior administration official said.

U.S. officials have privately expressed frustration with Israel’s decision to strike the Iranian consular building in Syria.

“I don’t think they had a strategy,” the senior administration official said. “The Israelis don’t always make the best strategic decisions.”

Senior leaders at the Pentagon also have privately expressed frustration at the timing of the Damascus strike, according to the senior defense official, because it had the potential to be “catastrophically escalatory.”

Netanyahu and Biden speaking

Yarden Segev

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is currently talking with President Joe Biden, according to a spokesperson for Netanyahu.

Their conversation follows discussions by the political-security cabinet and the war management cabinet, the spokesperson said.

Netanyahu's office did not disclose what the leaders discussed.

Israeli in Tel Aviv describes fighter jet sonic booms and explosions

Anna Schecter

Barak Herscowitz is hunkering down at home in Tel Aviv listening to what sounds him like a major war.

"The only sounds you hear, in a city where you would usually hear music from a nearby bar, is of fighter jets and explosions- no other sound," Herscowitz said.

Herscowitz, 38, said he is not in his safe room yet, and is feeling grateful for Israel's missile defense technology.

Hercowitz was just 7 years old when the Persian Gulf war broke out.

"I remembered today how we didn’t really have many ways to defend ourselves from both threats of that time: massive conventional missiles with mass destruction potential, and chemical weapons," he said. "This time, we have very strong air defense, almost all of the citizens have shelters in their homes — so for me, the feeling is much safer."

His real fear is for the long term: "This escalation is worrying mostly because it is unclear if Iran is dragging us to a much wider, longer and harder war on all fronts.” 

Hercowitz said he feels Israelis are resilient following more than six months of rocket fire from Iranian proxies.

"Although tonight is filled with an anxiety and I believe that no Israeli will sleep soundly, I’m optimistic we will get through these days in piece and the air defense will continue to work," he said.

Israeli security services say it treated 31 people

Israeli emergency services have been dispatched to treat 31 people who suffered from anxiety or minor injuries after emergency sirens blared throughout the country.

A statement from Magan David Adom noted that the injuries were caused "on their way to the protected area." It said it "continues to be on high alert."

A 7-year-old girl from the Bedouin diaspora was also in serious condition, but the cause of her injury is being investigated by police.

McConnell calls on House to pass national security supplemental amid Iran's barrage

Julie Tsirkin

Carly Roman

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell called out the Republican-controlled House's inaction on a Senate-passed aid package for Israel and Ukraine after Iran launched an aerial attack against Israel tonight.

“Congress must also do its part," McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, said.

"The national security supplemental that has waited months for action will provide critical resources to Israel and our own military forces in the region. It will provide overdue lethal assistance to Ukraine and equip vulnerable allies and partners in Asia to deter the PRC. And it will make urgent investments in our own defense industrial base," he continued.

McConnell also urged President Joe Biden and Congress to "discharge our fundamental duties without delay." He did not elaborate on which duties he was referencing.

Biden has repeatedly said he will defend Israel against Iran and the U.S. is shooting down some drones flying toward Israel.

Richard Engel NBC News Chief Foreign Correspondent, Host of MSNBC's "On Assignment with Richard Engel"

JERUSALEM — Israel and Iran have been at odds for decades, but what we're seeing tonight is different. Iran is directly attacking Israel, instead of hiding behind proxies or using another militant group to attack Israel, therefore, inviting Israel to retaliate directly on Iranian territory.

It's important that Iran said that after this attack, it wants the conflict to be over, but to be determined is whether Israel, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, agrees with that.

The drone attacks in Israel were the first wave of what Iran has said would be a three-wave attack. The second wave is comprised of more drones and missiles, and the third wave is ballistic missiles, which has the biggest potential to escalate this conflict into a regional war between Iran and Israel.

Many of Iran's strikes appear to be focused in southern Israel, in the Negev Desert area, where drones and missiles appear to have gotten through the air defense system.

Israeli media reported that some of the drones appeared to target the Knesset building in Jerusalem.