Amid growing concerns that the war between Israel and Hamas is expanding into a broader regional crisis, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken on Saturday began his fourth urgent visit to the Middle East in just three months with a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
The two discussed strategies to contain the conflict in the Gaza Strip and other ways to promote “lasting regional peace,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told NBC News.
Türkiye is a member of NATO and a key ally of the United States; Erdoğan has criticized Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in recent weeks.
During the face-to-face, Blinken stressed the need to “prevent the conflict from spreading, secure the release of hostages, expand humanitarian assistance and reduce civilian casualties,” as well as the need for a “Palestinian state,” Miller said. .
After the meeting with Erdoğan, Blinken left Turkey for Crete, where he was scheduled to meet with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken after landing in Turkey on Saturday for meetings on the war between Israel and Hamas. POOL/AFP via Getty Images Smoke is seen billowing over Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. AFP via Getty Images
It is also scheduled to stop in Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, the West Bank and Egypt as it attempts to find diplomatic solutions to growing violence in the Middle East.
But despite international efforts, signs that the conflict between Israel and Hamas was spreading were clear on Saturday morning, when Hezbollah launched a barrage of rockets into northern Israel from Lebanon.
The terrorist group claimed to have launched 62 rockets and made direct hits in the direction of the Israeli surveillance base on Mount Meron, along with two Israeli army bases near the Israel-Lebanon border.
Blinken (left) met with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Saturday, in addition to a face-to-face meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. AP
Israeli forces, however, said 40 rockets were fired and made no mention of the impact on the Meron area.
The rocket attack came a day after Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah called on the group to avenge the death of Hamas political leader Saleh al-Arouri, considered the architect of the October 7 attack in Israel that started war, by an Israeli. airstrike in Beirut on Tuesday.
A few hours after the Hezbollah attack, Israel’s Channel 12 published a video apparently showing an Israeli military helicopter shooting down a drone launched by the terrorist group.
“This is how a helicopter gunship shot down a Hezbollah drone: a day of battle in the north with intense bombing over Miron and many launches towards the Galilee.” the medium explained in X.
Claims that the drone was shot down could not immediately be confirmed.
Residents in northern Israel and southern Lebanon also saw the Israeli Air Force’s large missile-detecting balloon – the “Elevated Sensor” or “Sky Dew” – positioned along the border.
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The system is not operational and has faced several setbacks in its development, the Times of Israel reported.
The system took off on Saturday after receiving parts shipped from the United States, the outlet added, citing local news reports.
Also on Saturday, the Israel Defense Forces released new footage from its elite Egoz commando unit in southern Gaza, where it said troops fought Hamas gunmen at a school and raided the home of battalion commander Khan Younis. from the east of the terrorist group.
“In the town of Bani Suheila, outside Khan Younis, Egoz troops raided a school where Hamas operatives were hiding,” wrote Emanuel Fabian of the Times of Israel. wrote in X next to a video of the Egoz unit shooting at blackboards and other school materials.
“The IDF says troops killed three gunmen during a battle at the school. On their bodies, he says the forces found role-playing games and ‘a lot of intelligence’ about Hamas’ Khan Younis brigade,” Fabian added.
IDF troops in the Gaza Strip also attacked a civilian house that was “used as Hamas terrorist infrastructure,” the military wrote in X.
Israeli troops found a children’s puzzle encouraging violence against Israel in a house in southern Gaza. FDI/Telegram
“Our commando troops located Hamas weapons, grenades, magazines and vests,” the IDF announced along with images of piles of firearms and ammunition.
“Some of the weapons and combat materials were located in a bedroom next to children’s dolls and games, including some that incited hatred and violence against Israel,” they added, referring to a children’s puzzle that appeared to promote violence against Israel.
The disturbing and colorful children’s toy showed a boy dressed in a white robe and holding a Palestinian flag firing a machine gun, as well as armed people on boats approaching Israel from the sea.
The IDF releases new footage from the elite Egoz commando unit operating in southern Gaza, where it says troops raided the home of eastern Hamas battalion commander Khan Younis and fought gunmen at a school.
In the town of Bani Suheila, outside Khan Younis, Egoz’s troops… pic.twitter.com/C4wYZFLAqu
– Emanuel (Mannie) Fabián (@manniefabian) January 6, 2024
A title above the puzzle read “Liberate Palestine” in English and Arabic.
As the war between Israel and Hamas approaches its 100th day, the mother of an Israeli confirmed dead Friday in the Oct. 7 Hamas attack criticized the Israeli state for failing to prevent or address the massacre.
Yael Adar wrote on Facebook on Saturday that saying her son, Tamir Adar, 38, died in the attack “minimizes the magnitude of the failure.”
Smoke rises over the village of Khiam, on Lebanon’s southern border, following the Israeli bombardment. AFP via Getty Images
“The message should be different: Tamir was seriously injured while protecting his family and the community, given the lack of protection for the settlement,” Yael lamented.
“Tamir was kidnapped alive and injured. “Tamir was killed without receiving immediate medical attention,” he added.
“This is the default value! It suits everyone to write murdered on October 7 as if it had happened at a time that Tamir did not feel and could not save himself. If the state had been functioning, Tamir would have been saved. If the State was functioning, this failure would not have happened,” said the grieving mother.
With post cables
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Source: vtt.edu.vn