FEARS are looming that Hezbollah has found a way to beat Israel’s Iron Dome.
The drone attack that killed four on Sunday has left IDF chiefs questioning why their air defences didn’t detect the fatal strike.
Hezbollah said it had targeted a base belonging to the IDF’s Golani Brigade with a “swarm of drones“.
It was the deadliest strike by the terror group since Israel launched its ground invasion of Lebanon nearly two weeks ago.
Tel Aviv has a world-class air defence system which has meant strikes to Israel have, for the most part, been inconsequential – until now.
Israeli investigators are trying to wrap their head around why the Iron Dome didn’t pick up the killer drone – as well as why air raid sirens failed to alert the Golani Brigade.
The Iron Dome is supposed to intercept rockets that are travelling in the direction of a urban areas and bring them down – making it the first system of its kind in the world.
But fears loom that if multiple strikes are conducted simultaneously, the system could be overwhelmed.
Others have warned the system is less effective against drones that fly slower than easily detectable rockets.
Israel’s top defence officials visited the army base that was hit in the deadly Hezbollah attack and vowed to investigate how the drone managed to evade air defences.
Defence Minister Yoav Gallant called the attack a “difficult event with painful outcomes” but ensured the government would be “coordinating a national effort and working on developing solutions”.
The IDF have consequently launched an investigation to determine why the early warning systems weren’t triggered by the deadly drone.
According to the Times of Israel, Hezbollah launched two “Misrad” drones into Israeli airspace from the sea.
The Alma Center, an Israeli research institute, said the drone has a 120-kilometre assault range and a top speed of 370 kilometres per hour.
It has the capacity to carry up to 40 kilograms of explosives, and the ability to fly up to 3,000 metres, the institute says.
One of the drones was reportedly shot down off the coast, north of Haifa.
But the other appeared to go completely undetected as it soared across the border without triggering air raid sirens.
It then fatally hit the Binyamina camp’s hall where dozens of soldiers were eating.
Sergeant Omri Tamari, Sergeant Yosef Hieb, Sergeant Yoav Agmon and Sergeant Alon Amitay, all 19, died in the attack.
Israel’s military also said 61 were wounded – with seven severely injured.
Hezbollah’s media office issued a statement after the attack, cruelly boasting “the dining rooms of Israeli soldiers have become death traps”.
They said: “What [Israel] witnessed today in southern Haifa is nothing compared to what awaits it if it decides to continue its aggression against our noble and dear people.”
The terror group also said the strike was in response to Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon and Beirut on Thursday.
In a rare event, the US said on Sunday it would send US troops to Israel along with an advanced US anti-missile system.
The White House claim the extremely unusual deployment looks to bolster the country’s air defences following the missile attacks by Iran.
President Joe Biden said the move was “to defend Israel” which is waiting for an expected retaliation against Iran after Tehran fired over 180 missiles at Israel two weeks ago.
With Israel’s top air-defence systems, it is rare for so many people to be injured by drones or missiles.
Hezbollah and Israel have traded fire almost daily since the war in Gaza began – and fighting has escalated in recent weeks.
Israel launched its ground operation in Lebanon earlier this month with the goal of weakening Hezbollah and pushing the terror group away from the border to allow displaced Israelis to return.
Earlier on Sunday, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant promised that Israel would never let Hezbollah regroup along the Lebanon border.
He said: “These are military targets containing underground tunnels and weapon storages.
“Our troops found hundreds of RPGs, munitions, and anti-tank missiles here.
“The IDF is currently destroying these weapons above and under the ground.”
He said he has “instructed the IDF… to ensure that terrorists cannot return to these places”.
The IDF said some 100 Hezbollah operatives have been killed over the last week – and claimed more than 50 Hezbollah rocket launchers and 60 command centres have been destroyed.
But Avraham Levine, an analyst with Israeli think-tank Alma, said it’s likely Hezbollah was “well prepared and waiting” for Israeli troops.
He said: “The fact that the chain of command has been damaged does not take away the ability to shoot Israeli communities or try to hit,” describing Hezbollah as “the same powerful terror army we all know”.
Hezbollah’s deadly strike on the Israeli base came the same day the US said it would send a new air defences to help bolster protection against missiles.
Israel is now at war with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon – both Iran-backed militant groups – and is expected to strike Iran in retaliation for a missile attack earlier this month.
UKRAINE'S military has mastered drone warfare since Putin first invaded the country in February 2022.
Since early 2023, the cheap, explosive, flying machines have become one of Kyiv’s biggest success stories on the battlefield.
Ukraine’s “Achilles” troops are specialised drone warfare units within the 92nd Separate Mechanized Brigade, playing a pivotal role in Ukraine’s ongoing defence against Russian forces.
These troops have gained recognition for their expertise in using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in combat, particularly in repelling Russian assaults and destroying enemy equipment.
The battalion operates highly effective UAVs, such as the “Vampire” drones, which have been instrumental in targeting Russian positions and equipment, particularly in nighttime operations.
BOOKING days off around bank holidays next year can maximise your leave and even double your time off.
The tactic could give you 58 days off in 2025 while using only 28 days of annual leave (the average for Brits).
Of course this doesn’t mean you magically get more days off in the year.
It means that you get more days off in a row which allows you to appreciate the break properly.
Whether this means jetting off or just chilling on the sofa – you don’t want to miss out on the opportunity for some extra rest and relaxation.
Here are all the dates you should book off in 2025 to maximise your leave.
If your bosses are friendly and you’ve still got the chance to book some leave around New Years – then here’s when to do it.
The New Year bank holiday is on a Wednesday which means if you booked the Thursday and Friday (January 2 and 3) you could end up with a total five days off.
This is because you would run into the weekend allowing an entire Wednesday to Sunday free.
If you get really lucky with the rota you could also book December 30 and 31 off which is the Monday and Tuesday beforehand.
This means you’d get a total nine days off from the Saturday (December 28) through to the following Sunday (January 5).
And finally for a whopping 16 days off you could also take December 23, 24 and 27.
If taking from two different years’ leave allowances you might not be using up as much holiday as you think.
Easter bank holiday falls from April 18 (Good Friday) until April 21 (Easter Monday) next year.
This means if you booked holiday on the Monday to Thursday beforehand (April 14 to 17) then you could get 10 days on the trot.
And even better – if you also claimed the four days after Easter Monday (April 22 to 25) you would get that including the following weekend too.
Which, running from April 12 until 27, is 16 days overall.
In May there are two bank holidays on the Monday 5 and 26.
This means by taking the Tuesday to Thursday off on these weeks you could gain a total 9 days holiday.
For example, you would have the Saturday (May 3) til the following Sunday (May 11).
Or the Saturday (May 24) til the following Sunday (June 1).
In the summer, there’s also a bank holiday on August 25.
This means if you book the Tuesday to Friday off – so August 26 to 29 – you could get a total nine days.
That’s nine days from Saturday, August 23 til the following Sunday, August 31.
2025 Christmas bank holidays will fall on Thursday, December 24 for Christmas Day and Friday, December 26 for Boxing Day.
One option is that you could book off December 22, 23 and 24 to get a nine-day leave from December 20 to Monday, December 29.
Or you could book off December 29, 30 and 31 and January 2 (you don’t need to book the October 1 as this is already a bank holiday).
Then you’ll have a total 11 days including the weekend.
And if you book all seven days as holiday, you’d get 16 days from December 20 right through to January 5.
You could even split this between your 2025/26 annual leaves so it doesn’t feel like you’re throwing too much away in one go.
HERE are all the benefits the government lists on its website that could be moved forwards and how often they are usually paid:
You’ll usually need to check in with your employer before booking holiday as this is typically arranged around workload and rotas.
Most employers who work a five-day week must get at least 28 days’ paid annual leave a year – which is around 5.6 weeks.
By making sure you maximise your leave dates you could squeeze in holiday much easier.
It’s also always best to ask as early as possible to get more chance of approval – and not to mention that it’ll be cheaper to buy a holiday if you get in early.
Always make sure your holiday is definitely approved before making any purchases – you could risk losing out on a lot of cash.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
BIANCA Gascoigne has branded Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins the ‘worst experience of my life’ while revealing her secret show struggle.
Ex glamour model Bianca, 37, may have made it to tonight’s final but, in an exclusive interview with The Sun, has admitted her journey was far from easy.
She had only recently given birth to her daughter, Blake Sunshine, and was battling physical and emotional challenges in the gruelling competition.
Bianca said: “I had just had a C-Section, I had antenatal depression, was the most unfit I had ever been and my hormones were all over the place but I am proud of myself because I still did it.
“I had such a bad pregnancy. My hormones were horrific. I was missing my daughter so much because she was only four-months old.
“At the time it was one of the worst experiences of my life but looking back now it was one of the best experiences of my life apart from having my baby daughter.
“I would love to do it all again now I don’t have all the pregnancy hormones rushing through my body.
“I am a big tomboy so it’s something I’ve always wanted to do it.”
Tonight’s series final will see Georgia Harrison, Lani Daniels, Anthony Ogogo and Bianca attempt to prove their mettle one last time and pass the course.
It’s been a difficult time for Gazza‘s daughter as, only last month, it was revealed she had split from her fiancé of three years.
The Celebrity Big Brother alum moved out of the family home she shared with Arron Wright and Blake, who she had started dating in 2021.
The former couple welcomed their daughter into the world in February last year and got engaged in December 2023.
Bianca posted a video to Instagram of her and little Sunshine arriving at their new home, adding in the caption that the pair had spent the last 12 weeks “squashed in” at her mum Sheryl’s.
She wrote: “To finally have our own space is the best feeling in the world! I wanted to say a huge thank you to my amazing Mum.
“Here’s to our new chapter baby girl.”
A source told MailOnline: “It was a tough decision for them both, given they share a young child.
“But it just wasn’t working so it’s best to move on.
“All they care about is Sunshine’s happiness and they’ll continue to put her first before anything else.
“After struggling for the past two months with her living arrangements.
“Bianca is happy to have found a home, where she really sees a bright future for her and Sunshine.”
Many celebrities have attempted the infamous Channel 4 quasi military training course - but only a select few have successfully passed.
Series 1 (2019) – Wayne Bridge
Series 2 (2020) – Locksmith and Lauren Steadman
Series 3 (2021) – Alexandra Burke, Aled Davies and Wes Nelson
Series 4 (2022) – AJ Pritchard, Calum Best, Ferne McCann and Maisie Smith
Series 5 (2023) – Gareth Gates
SUN Racing takes on Tuesday’s action looking for winners.
Back a horse by clicking their odds.
The only place to get Templegate’s tips first – and at the best prices – is by joining Sun Racing’s brilliant Members Enclosure.
Sign up now for just £1* to be part of racing’s best winning team and get…
Become a member today for just £1*
*For the first month then £3 per month thereafter.
18+ Ts and Cs apply. First month membership £1, then £3 per month unless you cancel at least 7 days before your next billing date. For more information contact help@thesun.co.uk
LONGSHOT
CHARLIE MASON (4.30 Leicester)
He’s coming down the weights for canny Tony Carroll and has a capable 5lb claimer on board today.
EACH WAY THIEF
THE SPOTLIGHT KID (4.45 Yarmouth)
He has shown his best over this course and distance and looks on a fair handicap mark.
GLASTONBURY (5.15 Yarmouth)
The booking of Oisin Murphy takes the eye with this step up to a mile likely to bring improvement.
A responsible gambler is someone who:
Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
A COUPLE in their 80s have been forced to live in a tent after the council evicted them from the annexe they built in the grounds of their old farmhouse.
Eric Goodman and Penelope Blake built a wooden lodge in the garden of their home in Itteringham, Aylsham.
But becoming homeless and at the centre of a decade-long planning dispute for the next eight years was not what they had in mind.
The couple built the wooden annexe – a single building detached from the main house which they named Muster – in 2008 to rent out as holiday accommodation.
Despite gaining planning permission at the time of building they have since been told they are in breach of regulations because they no longer own the original house, which they sold in 2016.
The North Norfolk District Council (NNDC) said that when they sold the farmhouse in 2016 the property could no longer be considered an annexe, making the planning permission void.
With no where to go, Eric, a former antiques dealer and property developer and Penelope, an artist, decided to set up camp outside their property instead.
Talking to the Eastern Daily Press, Eric said: “We both have health issues now which have not been helped by what we have had to endure. We are British so have a stiff upper lip, we have just had to go along with it.“
With so many people struggling to buy their first home, you might be wondering what the rules are on annexes.
Most local authorities will require you to have planning permission if you want to build an annexe or convert a garage into a living space.
While there are some grey areas, it’s always best to check – even if your annexe exisited before you owned the property.
Homeowners should also be mindful about keeping within the boundaries of your property, the function of the annexe and ownership over the dweeling.
The couple have since moved to a temporary home in North Walsham but it is believed they make frequent returns to the property, often staying overnight.
The ordeal has cost the couple tens of thousands of pounds in their quest to gain planning permission. They are now on their ninth attempt.
These include three appeals to the Planning Inspectorate and one High Court battle, which the judge concluded had no “arguable grounds”.
According to the NNDC, the property’s remote location is in conflict with local plans to reduce car travel but the couple insist it is only a few miles away from town.
The new owners of Robin Farm, who bought the main house from the couple in 2016, told Eastern Daily News: “This long-term dispute and this latest appeal now seems a waste of a lot of people’s energy and effort.
“Can they keep rewriting and appealing their own story every year or so with all the associated effort and legal /council/ government costs etc in perpetuity?”
Another neighbour told the paper: “Villagers have observed smoke coming from the chimney. They are basically putting two fingers up to the authority.”
Government officials from the Planning Inspectorate have now been called to adjudicate and the couple are expected to be issued a ruling later this year on whether they can stay in their annexe.
A spokesperson for the North Norfolk District Council said: “The Council is confident that due process has been followed and notes that it has successfully defended its position on previous appeals relating to the site.
“We await to the decision of the Planning Inspectorate on the latest appeal that was submitted in June 2024.”
This comes after one woman broke the internet after revealing the incredible annexe home her mum built for her at the bottom of their garden.
In a now-viral video of the posh pad, she explained: “So today I moved my things into the coach house.
“This is like an extra building at my mum’s house and it was just being used for if we had friends round….I am absolutely so happy to be all settled in.”
TAYLOR SWIFT has sparked health concerns after being spotted with a worrying red mark on her arm.
The pop superstar has spent the weekend with NFL ace boyfriend Travis Kelce in New York City.
The pair were seen out and about, having dinner at some of the plushest restaurants in town.
They were pictured on a dinner date on both Friday and Saturday night in the Big Apple.
The loved-up duo spent the evening with Hollywood A-list pals Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively on Friday.
And Swift and Kelce were out again on Saturday, but it was something on her arm that had fans worried.
The 34-year-old was seen with a long red burn-like mark on her right arm, with a red circle around it.
She was hand-in-hand with Kelce, with the blemish slightly covered by her $1,400 black-and-gold Roberto Cavalli hand bag.
The Eras Tour artist – who was outside an Italian eatery at the time – was also wearing a cold velvet corset and skirt.
And worried Swift fans flocked to social media website X to open up about their concerns for her.
They speculated what the injury was – with most fearing a burn – and how she might have gotten it.
One said: “No but the burn is insane i hope girlie okay omg.”
A second added: “That’s either a cookie sheet, oven rack, or a curling iron.”
A third commented: “Can confirm that’s a baking burn.
“I’ve had the same one on my forearm from baking cupcakes.”
And a fan said: “Every cook’s nightmare.
Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour
Friday, Oct. 18 – Sunday, Oct. 20 – Miami, Florida
Friday, Oct. 25 – Sunday, Oct. 27 – New Orleans, Louisiana
Friday, Nov. 1 – Sunday, Nov. 3 – Indianapolis, Indiana
Thursday, Nov. 14 – Saturday, Nov. 16 – Toronto
Thursday, Nov. 21 – Saturday, Nov. 23 – Toronto
Friday, Dec. 6 – Sunday, Dec. 8 – Vancouver
Travis Kelce’s Kansas City Chiefs Schedule
Games that Swift may be able to attend are bolded
Thursday, Sept. 5 – Baltimore Ravens at Kansas City Chiefs
Sunday, Sept. 15 – Cincinnati Bengals at Kansas City Chiefs
Sunday, Sept. 22 – Kansas City Chiefs at Atlanta Falcons
Sunday, Sept. 29 – Kansas City Chiefs at Los Angeles Chargers
Monday, Oct. 7 – New Orleans Saints at Kansas City Chiefs
Sunday, Oct. 20 – Kansas City Chiefs at San Francisco 49ers
Sunday Oct. 27 – Kansas City Chiefs at Las Vegas Raiders
Monday, Nov. 4 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Kansas City Chiefs
Sunday, Nov. 10 – Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs
Sunday, Nov. 17 – Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills
Sunday, Nov. 24 – Kansas City Chiefs at Carolina Panthers
Friday, Nov. 29 – Las Vegas Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs
Sunday, Dec. 8 – Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs
Sunday, Dec. 15 – Kansas City Chiefs at Cleveland Browns
Saturday, Dec. 21 – Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs
Wednesday, Dec. 25 – Kansas City Chiefs at Pittsburgh Steelers
Saturday, Jan. 4 or Sunday, Jan. 5 – Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos
“This looks like the oven rack. Hope she heals soon.”
A fifth put on X: “Oven burn – damn you know that hurts.
“Glad she has travkisses for comfort.”
Despite the feared injury, Kansas City Chiefs star Kelce and Swift looked happy to be together.
The 35-year-old tight end is on an NFL bye week, with no game before Sunday 20th October.
He will then take on the San Francisco 49ers, in a repeat of last years epic Super Bowl showdown.
She had been to watch him play last Monday, a 26-13 win at Arrowhead Stadium to take the Chiefs record to 5-0.
THE Tampa Bay Rays could be forced to move home next year after severe damage to their stadium.
Tropicana Field had the roof ripped off as it was battered by Hurricane Milton last week.
The storm brought winds over 100mph to Florida and torrential downpours.
The Rays’ stadium in St Petersburg, Florida had been set up as a base for first responders ahead of Milton making landfall.
Thousands of beds were placed on the outfield over where the diamond would usually have been.
But dramatic footage from Wednesday night showed Tropicana Field’s roof being shredded by the winds.
Some estimates for repairing the roof and other damaged parts of the stadium have come in as high as $39 million.
But the Tampa Bay Rays were already committed to building a new stadium in time for the 2028 season.
That leaves the Rays in a tricky situation when it comes to their Tropicana Field home for the next three years.
The MLB team would also face a race against time to have the stadium ready for the beginning of the 2025 season at the end of March.
“The city will work with the Rays on determining the best options once the assessment of the situation is complete,” Council member Gina Driscoll said in a statement to NBC News.
The Tampa region and Florida in general has a number of ballparks.
Half of the league’s teams head down to the state for Spring Training in February and March.
The New York Yankees play their home Spring Training games in downtown Tampa, next to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Raymond James Stadium.
Footage also showed the NFL stadium underwater and “looking like an ocean” Wednesday night.
The Philadelphia Phillies are also based in Clearwater, Florida, just north of Tropicana Field on the Gulf of Mexico coast.
At least 23 people have been killed by Hurricane Milton and millions of people were left without power.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were forced to flee for New Orleans earlier than scheduled last week for their NFL clash with the Saints.
The Tampa Bay Lightning NHL side also relocated before Milton hit the region.
And further north in Florida, the Jacksonville Jaguars were forced to delay a transatlantic flight.
The Jags flew to London, England to take on the Chicago Bears in an NFL clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Their departure from Florida was pushed back by a few hours to allow the worst of the winds and rain to pass into the Atlantic Ocean.