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Hezbollah Launches Rockets Amid Ongoing Tensions in Gaza Conflict
BEIRUT/JERUSALEM (Reuters) – In a significant escalation of hostilities, Hezbollah announced early Tuesday that it had targeted two important military bases near Tel Aviv as well as a naval facility near Haifa. This announcement coincides with the anticipated arrival of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Israel, who is expected to advocate for a ceasefire amid a prolonged and increasingly violent conflict.
Diplomatic measures aimed at resolving the ongoing Gaza war, which has raged for over a year, have thus far proven ineffective. The conflict has seen a concerning uptick in violence between the Israeli military and Hezbollah following a year mainly characterized by sporadic exchanges of fire along Lebanon’s southern border.
Hezbollah reported that it had launched rockets targeting the Glilot military base, associated with Israel’s military intelligence Unit 8200, as well as the Nirit region located in the suburban areas of Tel Aviv. Additionally, the armed group also claimed to have fired projectiles at a naval base situated outside Haifa.
Although immediate casualty reports were not available, Israeli officials reported that air raid sirens were activated in areas southeast of Tel Aviv due to a rocket’s trajectory crossing from Lebanon and landing in an uninhabited area. Sirens also sounded in Tel Aviv itself.
Israel’s advanced air defense systems have successfully intercepted a considerable fraction of the missiles and drones aimed at its territory since the conflict escalated following the outbreak of the Gaza war.
Blinken’s upcoming visit marks his eleventh trip to the region since the commencement of hostilities following Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. His visit comes at a time when Israel is intensifying military operations against Iranian-backed factions, namely Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
During this week-long visit, which will also include stops in Jordan and Doha, Blinken aims to rekindle discussions on achieving a halt to the Gaza war while attempting to ease tensions in Lebanon. His discussions in Israel will reportedly focus on the nation’s response to an Iranian ballistic missile attack that took place on October 1, according to a senior State Department source who requested anonymity.
The potential U.S. retaliation for the Iranian missile strike could have far-reaching consequences, particularly in global oil markets, and risks escalating tensions into a broader conflict between the longstanding rivals.
Last week, Blinken and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin conveyed concerns to Israeli officials regarding the deteriorating situation in Gaza, warning that without tangible steps towards resolution, there could be implications for U.S. military assistance moving forward.
According to a U.S. official, during meetings with Israeli and Arab leaders, Blinken will focus on “day after” considerations, with particular emphasis on security, governance, and reconstruction efforts, which are seen as essential for any sustainable resolution to the ongoing conflict.
Experts Skeptical About Breakthrough
Analysts observe that both Hamas and Israel continue to maintain rigid positions, making any significant compromises unlikely before the U.S. presidential election on November 5, 2023, which could shift U.S. foreign policy priorities.
“It’s very hard to imagine a breakthrough occurring this week,” stated Aaron David Miller, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, noting that both Hamas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu show little urgency to cease hostilities at this moment.
During the past month, Israel has targeted key figures within both Hezbollah and Hamas, while continuing with extensive ground and aerial assaults without signs of abatement.
The recent assassination of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar by Israeli forces has been portrayed by the Biden administration as a potential turning point toward resolving the Gaza conflict. However, Prime Minister Netanyahu has reaffirmed the commitment to continue military operations.
Sinwar was reportedly instrumental in orchestrating the October 7 attacks that resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 Israelis, with an additional 253 individuals taken hostage and transported to Gaza, according to Israeli records. The subsequent Israeli bombardment of Gaza has reportedly claimed the lives of over 42,500 Palestinians, with health authorities estimating that an additional 10,000 bodies may still be buried beneath the debris.
The Role of the UN
As diplomatic discussions continue, U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein engaged in talks with Lebanese officials in Beirut on Monday regarding a potential ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. Hochstein remarked that mere acknowledgment of U.N. Resolution 1701, which concluded the previous conflict between the two parties in 2006, is insufficient to halt current hostilities.
He emphasized that both parties have yet to fully comply with the stipulations of the U.N. resolution, stating that it may serve as a foundation for ending the current conflict but additional actions must be explored to ensure its effective implementation “fairly, accurately, and transparently.”
Lebanon’s health ministry reported that the death toll since the commencement of Israel’s military operations had reached 2,483, with more than 11,000 individuals injured. Contrarily, Israeli officials disclosed that 59 individuals have died in northern Israel and the occupied Golan Heights during the same time frame.
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