KEY POINTS
- Houthis pledge continued attacks in Red Sea after Hamas senior official's killing
- US says there is no 'clear desire' between Israel and Hezbollah to wage all-out war
- Senior US Education Department official resigns, citing Biden's handling of Gaza war
It's the 90th day of the war in Gaza, and tensions in the Middle East are reaching a new high following two explosions in Iran and the killing of a Hezbollah commander Wednesday.
During a speech Wednesday night, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah warned Israel against waging an all-out war on the northern border, saying it will deliver a no-holds-barred response.
- Israeli army attacks Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon
- White House dismisses South Africa's 'meritless' case against Israel
- Hezbollah reportedly warned Arouri he was being followed
- 4 Iran-backed militia members in Iraq killed in Baghdad drone strike: Reports
- 5 IDF Brigades to complete Gaza withdrawal by week's end: Local media
- Hezbollah missile hits home in northern Israel: Local media
The chief of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Wednesday that Israeli forces are focused on Hamas but are in a high state of readiness on the northern border with Lebanon.
Iran wrote a letter to the United Nations Security Council Wednesday, urging it to condemn the perpetrators of two explosions in Kerman during the fourth-year commemoration of a top Iranian general's assassination. The blasts killed more than 70 people, as per the Iranian government.
Over in the nearby Red Sea, the United States and its allies released a joint statement warning Yemen's Houthi rebel militia against continuing attacks that target commercial shipping in the area.
Meanwhile, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) announced Wednesday night that it will hold public hearings for the case that South Africa lodged against Israel for the latter's military campaign in the Gaza Strip.
After decades of violence and endless fighting, the deep-rooted history of the Israel-Palestine conflict reached a boiling point on Oct. 7 when Hamas militants invaded Israel and killed more than 1,200 people – mostly civilians.
The Palestinian terror group also took hostage over 200 individuals, over 120 of whom are still being held in the Gaza Strip three months into the war.
The live update has ended.
Hezbollah missile hits house in northern Israel: Local media
Hezbollah fired an anti-tank missile "a short time ago" that hit a house in the Metula area in northern Israel, local N12 News reported. There were no casualties immediately reported after the launch and the Israeli army fired back, as per the report.
The report came after the IDF said an Israeli fighter jet attacked Hezbollah assets in Lebanese territory Thursday morning.
Hamas leader's killing in Lebanese territory 'embarrassed' Hezbollah: Report
The Tuesday assassination of a Hamas senior leader inside Lebanese territory, in an area known as a Hezbollah stronghold, "embarrassed" the powerful paramilitary group, Israel's national broadcaster Kan reported Thursday, citing a Lebanese political source.
3 IDF reserve Brigades to exit Gaza by the end of the week: Local media
A total of three IDF reserve Brigades and two conscripts Brigades will complete their withdrawal from the Gaza Strip by the end of the week, local i24 News correspondent Pierre Klochendler reported Thursday morning local time.
Yad Mordechai junction, Israel-Gaza border - IDF M-109 howitzer just pulled out of the front of the northern sector of the Gaza Strip as the fighting in this sector has moved to low-intensity warfare (i.e. neutralizing isolated terror cells, mapping out and destroying tunnels'… pic.twitter.com/8SCv76q0hg
— Pierre Klochendler (@P_Klochendler) January 4, 2024
The news comes after the IDF said earlier this week that it was withdrawing thousands of troops as part of the efforts to boost the economy and to ensure its soldiers are rested for a potential battle in the northern front.
Israel steps up attacks targeting Hezbollah assets in Lebanon
An Israeli Air Force (IAF) warplane attacked Hezbollah paramilitary assets in the Maroun al-Ras area in southern Lebanon Thursday morning, the IDF said.
It also fired mortars "to remove a threat" in an area near the northern border with Lebanon Wednesday night.
מטוס קרב של חיל האוויר תקף במהלך הבוקר עמדת תצפית ותשתית טרור של ארגון הטרור חיזבאללה, במרחב מרון א-ראס שבדרום לבנון. זמן קצר לאחר מכן, כוח צה״ל תקף חוליית נ"ט שזיהה במרחב.
— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) January 4, 2024
במהלך הלילה כוחות צה"ל ירו מרגמות להסרת איום במרחב רב א-תלתין בגבול לבנון>> pic.twitter.com/E1y3ZS8bFP
Commander of a pro-Iran militia in Iraq killed in blast: Reports
A commander of the pro-Iranian Iraqi militia, the Al-Nujaba movement, was killed in an explosion at a Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) base, Israel's national broadcaster reported Thursday, citing Arab reports. The commander's assistant was also killed in the blast and several others were wounded.
Other outlets reported that the attack was carried out using a drone. Police and security forces told Reuters Thursday that a total of four militia fighters were killed in the strike.
Two Iraqi militia commanders and an Al-Nujaba spokesperson accused the U.S. of carrying out the attack. Abu Aqeel al-Moussawi, a local Iraqi militia commander, said the group "will retaliate and make the Americans regret carrying out this aggression," as per the report.
Washington did not immediately comment on the matter, as per Reuters.
The Al-Nujaba movement was a former PMF unit that left the umbrella organization to form the Islamic Resistance in Iraq with other Iran-backed factions.
Hezbollah warned Hamas deputy leader he was being followed: Report
Iran-backed Hezbollah warned Hamas' deputy leader Saleh al-Arouri days before he was killed in a strike in Beirut that he was being followed by Israeli operatives, local Walla reported, citing Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar.
Israel has not confirmed nor denied that it carried out the strike that killed Hamas' senior leader. An aide for the Netanyahu government said hours after Arouri's killing that Israel "has not taken responsibility" for the attack.
US dismisses South Africa's 'genocide' accusation against Israel
National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby dismissed South Africa's accusations against Israel as "meritless, counterproductive" and "completely without any basis."
.@WhiteHouse National Security Council Spokesperson John Kirby dismisses South Africa’s accusation against Israel:
— Israel ישראל 🇮🇱 (@Israel) January 4, 2024
“We find this submission meritless, counterproductive, completely without any basis in fact whatsoever.” pic.twitter.com/NDfpqucNwt
The White House's position comes after the ICJ scheduled public two-day hearings for the case.
Iranian leader instructs army to avoid direct US confrontation: Report
Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has instructed the commanders of Iran's army to pursue "strategic patience" and avoid getting into a direct military clash with the U.S., the New York Times reported, citing two people familiar with internal discussions in the country.
The report comes following two blasts that killed scores of people during a Wednesday ceremony that commemorated the fourth-year death anniversary of a revered Iranian general who was killed in a U.S. targeted strike in 2020.
IDF attacks Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon
The Israeli army attacked a "terrorist cell" in Yaroun, a village in southern Lebanon, Wednesday night, the IDF said. Israeli troops also attacked observation posts and military infrastructures belonging to Iran-backed Hezbollah, the IDF added.
תקיפת חוליית מחבלים, תשתית צבאית ואמצעי תצפית; צה"ל תקף מטרות של ארגון הטרור חיזבאללה בשטח לבנון.
— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) January 3, 2024
כוחות צה"ל תקפו לפני זמן קצר חוליית מחבלים שפעלה במרחב הכפר יארון. בנוסף, צה"ל תקף אמצעי תצפית ותשתית צבאית בה שהו פעילים של ארגון הטרור חיזבאללה>> pic.twitter.com/AEjMjHOIwP
The announcement came a few hours after Hezbollah said four of its members, including a senior commander, were killed in an Israeli strike in southern Lebanon Wednesday.
US Education Department official steps down
Tariq Habash, a special assistant in the U.S. Education Department's Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy, resigned from his post Wednesday, citing the Biden administration's handling of the war in Gaza.
"I cannot stay silent as this administration turns a blind eye to the atrocities committed against innocent Palestinian lives," Habash wrote in a letter to Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, as per multiple outlets.
'No clear desire' by both Israel, Hezbollah to wage war: US official
Following the assassination of a top Hamas leader in Beirut on Tuesday, a U.S. official who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity, said that Washington sees "no clear desire for Hezbollah to go to war with Israel and vice versa."
Hezbollah's Nasrallah previously vowed that the Hamas leader's death will not go unpunished, and the Israeli army has also signaled that its troops in the northern front are prepared for fighting. However, observers noted that both sides have not used language indicating they are waging a full-blown war.
Israel has not confirmed nor denied that it was responsible for the attack that killed the Hamas senior official, but multiple outlets reported that a U.S. official said an Israeli strike killed Arouri.
Houthis vow continued Red Sea attacks
Yahya Sare'e, the spokesman for Yemeni Houthis, on Wednesday announced that the rebel army will "continue to prevent Israeli ships or those heading to the ports" of Israel. He also said "any American aggression will not go unanswered or punished."
بيانٌ صادرٌ عنِ القواتِ المسلحةِ اليمنية
— العميد يحيى سريع (@army21ye) January 3, 2024
بسمِ اللهِ الرحمنِ الرحيم
قالَ تعالى: { فَمَنِ ٱعۡتَدَىٰ عَلَیۡكُمۡ فَٱعۡتَدُوا۟ عَلَیۡهِ بِمِثۡلِ مَا ٱعۡتَدَىٰ عَلَیۡكُمۡۚ } صدقَ اللهُ العظيم
انتصاراً لمظلوميةِ الشعبِ الفلسطينيِّ الذي يتعرضُ للعدوان والحصارِ.
نفذتِ القواتُ البحريةُ… pic.twitter.com/Dx7hkIX6AC
The statement came at around the same time the U.S. and its allies warned Houthis against continuing attacks targeting commercial shipping activities in the Red Sea.
ICJ to hold public hearings in South Africa vs. Israel case
The ICJ said Wednesday that it will hold public hearings on Jan. 11-12 for the case that South Africa lodged against Israel over the latter's military offensive in the Gaza Strip.
In its filing, South Africa accused Israel of committing "genocidal acts against the Palestinian people in Gaza." The Israeli government has rejected the accusations "with disgust," saying South Africa's case was "blood libel."
PRESS RELEASE: the #ICJ will hold public hearings on the request for the indication of provisional measures submitted by #SouthAfrica in the case #SouthAfrica v. #Israel on Thursday 11 and Friday 12 January 2024. Watch live on @UNWebTVhttps://t.co/kHMCQklbfQ pic.twitter.com/t8Pgf5T4Ly
— CIJ_ICJ (@CIJ_ICJ) January 3, 2024
12 countries join US in warning Houthis against continued Red Sea disruption
The U.S. and 12 other countries released a joint statement Wednesday, warning Yemen's Houthi rebel army "against further attacks" in the Red Sea.
"There is no lawful justification for intentionally targeting civilian shipping and naval vessels," the statement reads, adding that the Yemeni rebel group "will bear the responsibility of the consequences should they continue" the attacks.
Read the full story here.
Iran urges UNSC to condemn Kerman attack
The Iranian government on Wednesday night wrote a letter to the UN Security council calling on the council "to immediately and unequivocally condemn" the attacks in Kerman that killed more than 70 people.
The explosions took place near the burying place of a top Iranian military general who was assassinated on Jan. 3, 2020 in a U.S. airstrike in Baghdad, as Iranians commemorated the 4th year of his passing.
Read the full story here.
Two explosions killed scores of people in Iran's southeastern city of Kerman, officials said. The blasts took place during a ceremony to commemorate top commander Qassem Soleimani who was killed by a US drone in 2020 https://t.co/pz8R2FvSLm pic.twitter.com/msFdtTAtn8
— Reuters (@Reuters) January 3, 2024
IDF chief visits northern command
The Israeli army's chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, visited the IDF's Northern Command Wednesday, following Hezbollah's warning of a "significant" response in the killing of a top Hamas leader Tuesday.
Even as Israeli troops are still focused on fighting Hamas militants across the Gaza Strip, Halevi said the IDF is "in very strong readiness in the north," as per a Google translation of his statement during the visit.
رئيس الأركان على الحدود الشمالية: إننا على استعداد قوي جداً في شمال البلاد فيما نركّز على محاربة حماس
— افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) January 3, 2024
أجرى رئيس أركان جيش الدفاع اليوم (الأربعاء) تقديراً للموقف مع قائد المنطقة الشمالية الميجر جنرال أوري غوردين وقائد الفرقة 210 البريغادير تسيون راتسون وقادة الألوية وكتائب… pic.twitter.com/8PMHmv8llu
Hezbollah leader warns Israel not to wage all-out war
Nasrallah on Wednesday warned Israel that if it "thinks of waging a war on Lebanon, we will fight without restraint, without rules, without limits and without restrictions."
He also addressed the death of Arouri, Hamas' deputy leader, who was killed in a drone strike in a Beirut suburb – known as a Hezbollah stronghold – on Tuesday. He said the attack "will not go unanswered and unpunished."
The Hezbollah chief's speech was delivered on the 4th death anniversary of Qasem Soleimani, the head of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force, who was assassinated in a U.S. strike in 2020.
Read the full story here.
Hezbollah senior official killed in Israeli strike
Lebanon-based terror group Hezbollah on Wednesday announced the killing of Hussein Yazbek, the commander of the organization's operations in Naquora, in an Israeli strike in southern Lebanon, multiple outlets reported. Three other members of the group were killed in the attack, the group said.
Hezbollah mourns the death of four fighters killed by an Israeli airstrike. The announcement raises the death toll to nine Hezbollah members killed by Israel today. pic.twitter.com/Z2Ol1zSZLN
— Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman) January 3, 2024
