On Tuesday, the Israel Defense Forces reported that Hashem Safieddine, a prominent Hezbollah figure often regarded as the potential successor to the group’s ex-leader Hassan Nasrallah, was killed approximately three weeks ago. The IDF stated that it could verify this information after a period of speculation regarding Safieddine’s status, who led Hezbollah’s executive council.
On Tuesday morning, Secretary of State Antony Blinken held discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, according to a statement from the prime minister’s office. This meeting was part of Blinken’s recent visit to the Middle East aimed at reducing tensions in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip.
According to State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller, Blinken highlighted the importance of Israel enhancing and maintaining the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. He also advocated for measures to de-escalate tensions in both Gaza and Lebanon. The U.S. has cautioned that ongoing military support to Israel may be contingent upon better humanitarian conditions in northern Gaza.
During his trip with several stops, Blinken is anticipated to try once more to negotiate a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas while also seeking a diplomatic solution to Israel’s conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon. His arrival coincided with Hezbollah’s announcement of rocket attacks on Israel, while the Israeli military reported ongoing strikes against militant positions in Lebanon.
Rescue operations persisted in the southern suburbs of Beirut near Rafiq Hariri University Hospital, following Israeli airstrikes that destroyed two apartment buildings. According to Lebanon’s Health Ministry on Tuesday, at least 13 individuals, including a child, lost their lives, while 57 others sustained injuries. There are concerns that more victims may be trapped beneath the debris.
The Israel Defense Forces reported that they targeted a Hezbollah site close to a prominent public hospital in Beirut, part of a broader operation in which they claimed to have struck 230 militant locations throughout Lebanon and Gaza within the last 24 hours, although they did not disclose additional specifics. In another development, Sahel General Hospital in Beirut was evacuated after Israel alleged that Hezbollah was hiding funds in an alleged bunker beneath the hospital, a statement that the hospital’s director refuted.
Here are some additional important updates.
- In a statement released on Tuesday, Hezbollah took responsibility for a drone attack aimed at the residence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu located in the Caesarea region. Netanyahu’s office confirmed that the incident occurred over the weekend and reported that there were no injuries.
- Georgios Petropoulos, who leads the Gaza office for the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, described the situation in northern Gaza as extremely dire. On Tuesday, his office revealed that Israeli authorities rejected an urgent plea for assistance aimed at rescuing individuals trapped beneath debris in Jabalya for the fifth day in a row.
- Philippe Lazzarini, the head of UNRWA, charged that Israeli officials have consistently hindered humanitarian efforts aimed at assisting civilians in northern Gaza. He noted that numerous hospitals have lost power due to attacks. Additionally, he mentioned that many displaced individuals are compelled to reside in bathrooms due to the excessive crowding in UNRWA shelters.
- The Gaza Health Ministry reports that the death toll in Gaza has reached a minimum of 42,718 due to the ongoing conflict. Meanwhile, Lebanon’s Health Ministry states that at least 2,483 individuals have lost their lives in the country. Neither report differentiates between military personnel and non-combatants.
- According to Israeli estimates, around 1,200 individuals lost their lives during the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, with over 300 of those being soldiers. Additionally, the country reports that its military operations in Gaza have resulted in the deaths of 356 soldiers.