In the early hours of Tuesday, Hezbollah announced that it had fired a series of rockets targeting two significant military bases near Tel Aviv and a naval installation west of Haifa. This escalation comes as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives in Israel to advocate for a ceasefire amidst ongoing hostilities.
Despite various diplomatic efforts, the year-long conflict in Gaza and its repercussions involving Hezbollah and Israel have yet to see a resolution. The situation has worsened in recent weeks following a series of exchanges of fire primarily along Lebanon’s southern border.
Following Blinken’s arrival, Lebanon’s health ministry reported that the death toll from an Israeli strike on Hariri Hospital in Beirut rose to 13. This incident underscores the ongoing violence that has persisted despite international calls for peace.
In retaliation to heavy Israeli bombardments in southern Lebanon, Hezbollah confirmed its rocket fire aimed at the Glilot military base associated with Israeli military intelligence Unit 8200, as well as the Nirit area near Tel Aviv. They also targeted a naval base near Haifa, further complicating the situation.
Initial reports did not indicate any casualties from the rocket attacks. However, Israeli officials confirmed that air raid sirens were activated in regions southeast of Tel Aviv after one rocket was detected crossing from Lebanon, landing in an uninhabited area. Additional sirens were heard throughout Tel Aviv.
Blinken’s trip marks his eleventh visit to the region since the onset of the Gaza war following the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023. During his stay, he is scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, and other officials as part of a week-long diplomatic mission that also includes visits to Jordan and Qatar.
A senior State Department official indicated that discussions would cover Israel’s expected response to a ballistic missile attack from Iran on October 1. U.S. allies are increasingly concerned that Israel’s retaliation could destabilize oil markets and escalate tensions into a full-blown conflict.
Iran has expressed its concerns to the U.N. nuclear watchdog regarding Israeli threats against its nuclear facilities. Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, speaking in Kuwait, reaffirmed that Iran seeks to de-escalate tensions but is fully prepared for conflict. He condemned any attacks on nuclear sites as significant violations of international law.
The U.S. official emphasized that Blinken’s discussions with Israeli and Arab leaders will focus on post-conflict issues such as security, governance, and reconstruction. Establishing clear plans for the aftermath of hostilities is viewed as crucial for achieving a lasting resolution to the ongoing crisis.
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