Hezbollah Claims Targeting of Israeli ‘Intel Base’ in Tel Aviv as Blinken Arrives to Pursue Ceasefire
Hezbollah announced that it has launched a series of rocket attacks targeting two significant bases near Tel Aviv and a naval facility located west of Haifa, coinciding with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s arrival in Israel to push for a ceasefire.
So far, diplomatic initiatives have not succeeded in halting the year-long conflict in Gaza, which has escalated tensions between the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and Israel, particularly in recent weeks following a year of sporadic exchanges of fire along Lebanon’s southern border.
Following a night of intense Israeli airstrikes on the southern part of Lebanon and the southern suburbs of its capital, Hezbollah claimed it targeted the Glilot base, associated with Unit 8200 of the Israeli military intelligence, as well as the Nirit area in the suburbs of Tel Aviv.
The group also reported firing rockets at a naval base situated outside the port city of Haifa to the north.
Sirens sounding in central and northern Israel
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 22, 2024
Israel’s extensive air defense systems have intercepted the majority of missiles and drones aimed at it since the onset of the Gaza conflict.
Mr. Blinken’s visit to the region marks his 11th since the assault on Israel by the Palestinian militant organization Hamas on October 7, 2023, which triggered the Gaza war. This visit takes place as Israel escalates its military operations against Iranian-backed militants – both Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
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During his trip, Mr. Blinken aims to revive discussions aimed at concluding the Gaza war and alleviating tensions in Lebanon. His week-long Middle East tour will also encompass Jordan and Doha.
In Israel, he will engage in talks about Israel’s response to Iran’s ballistic missile strike on October 1, according to a senior US State Department official, who requested anonymity.
A retaliatory attack could disrupt oil markets and poses the risk of provoking a full-scale war between Iran and Israel.
Lebanese forces take security measures around Rafik Hariri University Hospital
According to the health ministry, at least 13 individuals were killed and 57 injured in an Israeli strike near Hariri hospital, the primary governmental hospital in Beirut, as reported this morning.
Last week, Mr. Blinken and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin contacted Israeli officials, urging concrete actions to address the deteriorating situation in Gaza, warning of potential restrictions on US military aid if no action was taken.
The US official indicated that Mr. Blinken’s discussions with Israel and Arab nations will focus on “day after” challenges, particularly security, governance, and reconstruction. Developing comprehensive plans for these areas has been viewed as essential for achieving any lasting resolution to the conflict.
Experts believe that Hamas and Israel remain at a standstill and are unlikely to make major concessions before the US presidential election on November 5, which could significantly alter US policy.
In the past month, Israel has taken out key leaders of Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza, while displaying no signs of reducing its ground and aerial operations.
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The Biden administration suggested that the recent killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar by Israeli forces could be a potential opportunity that might lead to the cessation of the Gaza war. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists that the military operations will persist.
Sinwar was believed to be one of the masterminds behind the October 7 attack on Israeli communities, which resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities and around 253 people taken as hostages into Gaza, according to Israeli reports.
Subsequent Israeli bombardments of Gaza have resulted in over 42,500 Palestinian deaths, with an additional 10,000 unaccounted for, believed to be buried under the rubble, as per Gaza health officials.
Antony Blinken’s trip to the region is his 11th since war broke out in Gaza on 7 October 2023
US envoy Amos Hochstein met with Lebanese officials in Beirut yesterday to discuss conditions for a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
Mr. Hochstein expressed that merely committing to UN resolution 1701, which concluded the last major conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006 and demands a military-free southern Lebanon, is “not enough.”
He noted that neither Hezbollah nor Israel has adequately implemented the UN resolution and emphasized that while it should serve as a foundation for ending current hostilities, the US is working to determine what further actions are necessary to ensure its fair and transparent implementation.
Lebanon’s health ministry reported that the death toll since the onset of Israel’s offensive has reached 2,483, with 11,628 individuals injured.
Israeli authorities have noted that 59 people have died in northern Israel and the occupied Golan Heights during the same timeframe.
Meanwhile, in Damascus, Syria’s capital, at least two individuals were killed, and three others were injured in what appeared to be a guided missile strike on a vehicle, as reported by Syrian state television, citing a military source who attributed the incident to Israel.
