The Latest | Iran promises payback for Israel’s apparent strike that killed top generals

Iranian leaders renewed their promise to hit back after an airstrike widely blamed on Israel destroyed Iran’s Consulate in Syria, killing 12 people, including two elite Iranian generals. AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER CRITICIZES ISRAEL’S KILLING OF AID WORKERS MELBOURNE, Australia — Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the Israeli airstrikes that killed six foreign aid workers in Gaza “stands in stark contrast” with Israel’s statements that it is protecting lives. U.S. SAYS IT CONTINUES TO SUPPORT ISRAEL’S RIGHT TO DEFEND ITSELF WASHINGTON — White House national security spokesman John Kirby on Wednesday underscored that the Biden administration continues to support Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas following this week’s Israeli strike that killed seven World Central Kitchen aid workers. The foreign ministry in Germany, a staunch ally of Israel, said Wednesday that it views the legislation “with concern.” Spokesperson Sebastian Fischer said a free and diverse media landscape is a central tenet of liberal democracy, “and Israel understands itself as a liberal democracy.” Asked by an Al Jazeera reporter whether Germany agrees with Netanyahu’s assessment of Qatari-based TV network, Fischer replied: “We have regularly given interviews on Al Jazeera, and wouldn’t do that if Al Jazeera were a terror channel from our point of view.” ISRAELI POLICE SAY ARAB RESIDENT CARRIES OUT CAR-RAMMING ATTACK TEL AVIV — Israel police said an Arab resident from northern Israel carried out a car-ramming attack, wounding four police officers and attempting to stab security forces at a checkpoint before he was killed by police. AUSTRALIAN LEADER SAYS ISRAEL PROMISES ‘FULL TRANSPARENCY’ INTO AID WORKERS’ KILLING MELBOURNE, Australia — Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu has provided an undertaking for “full transparency” in an investigation of how seven aid workers including an Australian woman who were killed by airstrikes in Gaza.