Hezbollah has announced that it fired rockets at two Israeli military bases near Tel Aviv and one west of Haifa on Tuesday morning. The attacks occurred just hours before U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Israel in an effort to broker a ceasefire amid the escalating conflict.
Diplomatic efforts have thus far failed to put an end to the year-long war in the Gaza Strip and the spillover conflict between Hezbollah and Israel. Tensions have intensified in recent weeks following a year of exchanges of fire across Lebanon’s southern border.
Shortly after Blinken’s arrival, Lebanon’s health ministry reported that the death toll from an Israeli strike on Monday night near Hariri Hospital, Beirut’s main government medical facility, had risen to 13.
Following a heavy night of Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon and the southern suburbs of Beirut, Hezbollah declared that it had targeted the Glilot base, used by Israel’s Unit 8200 military intelligence, and the Nirit area in Tel Aviv’s suburbs. The group also claimed to have fired rockets at a naval base near the port city of Haifa.
There were no immediate reports of casualties from the rocket attacks. Israeli authorities stated that air sirens were activated in areas southeast of Tel Aviv due to a projectile crossing from Lebanon and landing in an open area. Additional sirens sounded in Tel Aviv.
Blinken’s trip marks his 11th visit to the region since the attack on Israel by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on October 7, 2023, which ignited the Gaza war. During his visit, Blinken is scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and other officials. His Middle East tour also includes stops in Jordan and Qatar.
In Israel, Blinken is expected to discuss Israel’s anticipated retaliation for a ballistic missile attack launched by Iran on October 1, according to a senior State Department official who spoke on condition of anonymity. Allies are concerned that Israel’s response could disrupt oil markets and risk triggering a full-scale war between the longstanding adversaries.
Iran has lodged a complaint with the UN nuclear watchdog regarding Israeli threats to strike its atomic energy sites, as stated by Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman on Monday. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, speaking at a news conference in Kuwait during a regional tour, asserted that Tehran does not seek war in the Middle East and has made efforts to reduce tensions but is prepared for any conflict.
“We know that Israel does not follow any international rule. We have our own tools to defend ourselves and our nuclear infrastructure,” Araqchi said. “Attacking nuclear facilities is a big international crime, even threatening to attack nuclear sites is an international crime and goes against international laws.”
The U.S. official indicated that during meetings with Israeli and Arab leaders, Blinken will emphasize ‘day after’ issues, focusing on security, governance, and reconstruction. Detailed plans for post-conflict scenarios are considered essential for achieving a lasting resolution.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
