In a significant escalation of the year-long conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, the Lebanese armed group launched a series of rockets targeting key locations in Israel on Tuesday morning. The attacks hit two bases near Tel Aviv and one west of Haifa, coinciding with the arrival of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in the region.
Despite intense diplomatic efforts, a ceasefire remains elusive as the violence continues to spill over from Gaza into Lebanon's southern border. Hours after Blinken's arrival, Lebanon's health ministry reported that an Israeli strike near Hariri Hospital in Beirut had resulted in 13 fatalities.
Hezbollah's rocket strikes targeted the Glilot base, home to Israel's Unit 8200 of military intelligence, and the Nirit area in Tel Aviv's suburbs, as well as a naval base outside Haifa. While no immediate casualties were reported from the rocket attacks, Israeli air sirens were activated in areas southeast of Tel Aviv due to incoming projectiles.
Blinken's visit marks his 11th trip to the region since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which sparked the current Gaza war. During his week-long Middle East tour, which includes stops in Jordan and Qatar, Blinken is set to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to discuss the ongoing conflict and potential pathways to peace.
Amid rising tensions, allies express concern that Israel's anticipated retaliation for a recent ballistic missile attack by Iran could disrupt global oil markets and potentially ignite a broader conflict between Israel and its adversaries. Iran has criticized Israeli threats against its nuclear infrastructure, calling them violations of international law.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi emphasized Tehran's commitment to avoiding war while asserting its preparedness to defend its nuclear facilities. He stated, \"Attacking nuclear facilities is a big international crime, even threatening to attack nuclear sites is an international crime and goes against international laws.\"
U.S. officials have indicated that Blinken will focus on security, governance, and reconstruction in his discussions with Israeli and Arab leaders, underscoring the need for detailed plans to ensure a lasting resolution to the conflict.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
