Yemen’s Houthis have escalated their actions against Israel by launching at least one ballistic missile, which came close to the country. Unconfirmed reports suggest that the missile targeted Tel Aviv. Some independent journalists claim some projectiles hit Israel.
Israel’s military has stated that it intercepted a missile fired from Yemen, with explosions heard in the early night hours of Friday (local. Following the sirens that sounded in central Israel, the surface-to-surface missile that was launched from Yemen was intercepted by an ‘Arrow’ interceptor outside of Israeli territory,” the army said in a statement. There is currently no change to the IDF Defensive guidelines,” it added.
While this was happening, over the last day, Israeli sources have stated that rockets fired from Hezbollah positions in Lebanon targeted central Israel. This indicates that Hezbollah is intent on reaching targets deeper within the country. Some sources claim successful strikes on the ground; however, Israeli reports emphasize the intercept. More attacks from Yemen could be on their way.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the United States has quickly proven embarrassing for the Biden administration. The first thing the prime minister did after landing in the US was walk back a ‘private understanding’ with the Biden administration that he would publicly vouch for the US-proposed 21-day ceasefire plan in Lebanon. Instead, Netanyahu made it clear on Thursday that there will be no ceasefire in Lebanon. Axios has confirmed the walk-back as follows.
Trita Parsi of the Quincy Institute think tank had this to say: “It is not that Netanyahu is playing Biden. It is that Biden lets Netanyahu play him over, and over, and over again.
Indeed, this has been the constant pattern when it comes to the much-touted Gaza truce which has never happened despite Blinken constantly proclaiming the US was “at the goal line” in terms of making it happen.
Despite optimistic Wednesday headlines from US media touting a White House push for ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, there proved to be no substance to the reports, given that just a day later Israel has rejected proposals for a ceasefire in Lebanon.
There will be no ceasefire in the north,” Foreign Minister Israel Katz announced on X. We will continue to fight against the Hezbollah terrorist organization with all our strength until victory and the safe return of the residents of the north to their homes.
With heavy US diplomatic involvement, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati expressed hope for soon achieving a ceasefire, following the deaths of at least 550 Lebanese.
The United States, the EU, France, the UK and other nations have issued a formal call for an immediate 21-day ceasefire across the Israel-Lebanon border. This came out of intense discussions at the United Nations in New York. However, this has been quickly shot down as more developments unfolded.
Currently, Israel says it is hitting Beirut with more ‘precision strikes.’ Aerial assaults on the capital have been slowly growing more frequent, as have strikes deep into the Bekaa Valley, where it’s believed Hezbollah stores much ammunition and missiles.
Several recent attacks on the southern suburbs of Beirut have killed multiple Hezbollah high-ranking commanders, but along with them scores of civilians as well.
Below are some of the latest developments in Lebanon and Gaza via Al Jazeera.
Intense Bekaa Valley strikes.
