KEY POINTS
- Several injured after explosion at Iranian oil refinery, state media says
- Israel reportedly sets deadline for reaching diplomatic deal with Hezbollah
- Britain to assess Israel's humanitarian law compliance in Gaza war
The Israel-Hamas war is now in its 153rd day, and the conflict in the Middle East reached its most contentious point yet since the war started after authorities said Thursday that three crew members of the bulk carrier True Confidence were killed when a Houthi missile struck the ship off Aden in Yemen on Wednesday. The casualties mark the first deaths in Houthi-led attacks in the Red and Arabian Seas and the Gulf of Aden.
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said the anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) that hit the vessel was launched from Iranian-backed Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. It also clarified that the ship was Liberian-owned, following British security firm Ambrey's report that the vessel was U.S.-owned.
Yahya Sare'e, the Yemeni rebel Houthis' spokesman, also referred to the ship as "American." He said naval missiles were fired toward the vessel, leading to a fire.
- US reportedly requests list of arms transfers to Israel
- Israel slams South Africa's fresh petition at World Court
- Hamas demands permanent truce, IDF withdrawal before hostage releases: Arab media
- Protesters calling for hostages' release restart demonstrations at Kerem Shalom crossing
- Indian Navy evacuates crew members from Houthi-struck ship
- 8 missiles fired toward Galilee from southern Lebanon: Arab media
- Hamas knows hostages' fate but is playing a 'game': Report
- Israeli fighter jets strike Hezbollah buildings after missiles fired from Lebanon
- Palestinian Authority sees itself as able to exist alongside Israel: Former Shin Bet chief
- US ambassador to Israel says ceasefire-hostage deal talks have not ended
In Israel's northern border with Lebanon, Iranian-backed Hezbollah claimed it struck an Israeli army vehicle – the heavily armed Lebanese terror group has been targeting Israeli military assets in recent weeks.
Back in the devastated Gaza Strip, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it eliminated the head of Hamas' Central Camp unit in joint efforts with Israel's security agency Shin Bet.
Talks for a ceasefire-hostage deal have stalled even as the U.S. and mediators Qatar and Egypt push the warring sides to reach an agreement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called Hamas' demands "delusional," but the latter has reiterated that it won't settle for less than what it demands.
The war in Gaza stems from decades of fighting in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden is advocating to resolve through a two-state solution. Deep-rooted tensions blew up on Oct. 7, when Hamas operatives raided Israel, killing more than a thousand people -- mostly civilians -- and taking some 250 Israelis and foreigners hostage.
The live update has ended.
Hostage deal talks have not ended: US ambassador
U.S. ambassador to Israel Jack Lowe on Thursday clarified that talks for a hostage release deal are ongoing and have not ended, as per Axios political reporter Barak Ravid.
His clarification came after a Hamas delegation departed Cairo without a breakthrough in talks for a ceasefire-hostage agreement.
Palestinian Authority the 'legitimate' Gaza body: Ex-Shin Bet chief
Nadav Argaman, former chief of Israel's security agency Shin Bet on Thursday said the Palestinian Authority is "the legitimate body of the Palestinian people," Israel's national broadcaster Kan reported, as per a Google translation.
"The Palestinian Authority is not a body that encourages terrorism and certainly not a terrorist organization. The PA sees itself as living by our side," he was quoted as saying.
ראש השב"כ הקודם נדב ארגמן בכנס INSS: חמאס הוא ארגון טרור, הרשות הפלסטינית היא הגורם הלגיטימי של העם הפלסטיני. הרשות הפלסטינית איננה גוף שמעודד טרור ובוודאי לא ארגון טרור. הרשות רואה את עצמה חיה לצידנו" | שידור ישיר >>> https://t.co/dTi34gnBZU@AnnaPines_ pic.twitter.com/uY2k5rESbx
— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) March 7, 2024
Israel marks 5 months since Hamas Oct. 7 massacre
Israelis on Thursday marked the fifth month since Hamas militants launched a shock invasion of Israel, murdering more than a thousand people and abducting some 250 hostages – around 130 of which are still being held in the Gaza Strip.
5 months after the October 7 massacre, families of victims and hostages march to remind Israel not to forget their loved ones
— i24NEWS English (@i24NEWS_EN) March 7, 2024
'They have harsh words for the government; they feel very much abandoned,' @mcauliffe_marym reports pic.twitter.com/toPxnEIkqw
Israel strikes two Hezbollah buildings
Israeli warplanes "recently" struck "two military buildings" in the Aitaroun and Ayta ash Shab villages in southern Lebanon that belonged to Hezbollah, the IDF said Thursday afternoon local time.
מטוסי קרב תקפו לפני זמן קצר שני מבנים צבאיים של ארגון הטרור חיזבאללה במרחב עיתרון ובמרחב עייתא א-שעב.
— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) March 7, 2024
אתמול בשעות הערב הותקפו מבנה צבאי של הארגון במרחב אל מטמורה ועמדת תצפית של הארגון במרחב אל ג׳יבין>> pic.twitter.com/f7F8eYb3DO
The strikes came after reports that eight missiles were fired toward Galilee in northern Israel earlier in the day.
Hamas knows fate of hostages: Report
Hamas knows which hostages are alive and which were killed in captivity, CNN reported Thursday, citing an Israeli official. The official reportedly said the Palestinian group knows but is playing "a game."
This comes after a senior Hamas official said it was impossible to know the fate of remaining abductees as they were being held by different factions and are located in various areas across the enclave.
Of over 250 hostages dragged into the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7, some 130 are still in captivity, and around 30 of them are feared dead.
8 missiles fired toward Galilee: Arab media
Eight missiles were launched from southern Lebanon toward Galilee in northern Israel on Thursday afternoon local time, Arab media reported.
Indian Navy evacuates crew members of Houthi-attacked ship
The Indian Navy on Thursday evacuated all 20 crew members of the merchant ship True Confidence that Iranian-backed Houthis attacked with missiles Wednesday, resulting in three deaths and several injured. True Confidence's owners said an Indian battleship evacuated the crew members to a Djibouti hospital, as per Reuters.
Two Filipinos and one Vietnamese crew were killed when a Houthi missile struck the ship and set the vessel ablaze Wednesday morning. The Indian Navy spokesperson has also posted on X about the evacuation operations.
#IndianNavy's swift response to Maritime Incident in #GulfofAden.
— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) March 7, 2024
Barbados Flagged Bulk Carrier MV #TrueConfidence reported on fire after a drone/missile hit on #06Mar, approx 54 nm South West of Aden, resulting in critical injuries to crew, forcing them to abandon ship.… pic.twitter.com/FZQRBeGcKp
Hostages' families regroup at Kerem Shalom
The loved ones and supporters of hostages still in Hamas captivity have returned to the Kerem Shalom border crossing after calling for the abductees' release in a recent march. They demand that aid to Gaza be halted until all the hostages are freed. They also expressed concern that the aid meant for civilians may be going to Hamas instead, as per local N12 News.
מחסום כרם שלום נחסם בשעה זו לתנועת משאיות האספקה והסיוע לארגון הטרור חמאס. פעילי תנועת צו 9 ובני משפחות חטופים הגיעו במטרה למנוע את המעבר של שיירות המשאיות.@shapira_nitzan pic.twitter.com/sxNvchLNLU
— החדשות - N12 (@N12News) March 7, 2024
Protesters started blocking humanitarian aid convoys entering the Gaza Strip in January, at times clashing with authorities and at one point resulting in arrests due to violence.
Hamas demands permanent ceasefire: Arab media
Hamas has agreed to Egyptian truce proposals, but demands that Israel agree to a permanent ceasefire, Sky News in Arabic reported Thursday, citing an unidentified source. The Palestinian terror group also reportedly demanded that the Israeli army withdraw from the Gaza Strip before hostages are freed.
This comes after truce talks in Cairo ended without a deal, dashing hopes for the release of some 130 hostages still being held in Gaza.
Israel accuses South Africa of being Hamas' 'legal arm'
Israel on Thursday said South Africa was exploiting the World Court to help Hamas as the latter once again petitioned to have measures taken against Israel over its military offensive in Gaza.
"South Africa continues to act as the legal arm of Hamas in an attempt to undermine Israel's inherent right to defend itself and its citizens, and to release all of the hostages," the Israeli foreign ministry said.
The South African government on Wednesday petitioned the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to impose new emergency measures against Israel over what it said was "widespread starvation" as a result of the IDF's offensive in the Gaza Strip.
Biden administration requests list of arms transfers to Israel: Report
The White House recently asked for a list of all weapons transfers to Israel that are still being planned or are being considered for approval in the coming weeks, local Walla reported Thursday, citing four senior American officials.
The request was reportedly lodged with the U.S. foreign affairs ministry and the Pentagon, but the officials noted that the request doesn't mean the Biden government will impose limits on military aid to Israel at this point.
One senior official said the White House wants to know if the lists with the two agencies had differences with the weaponry systems that the Israeli army was prioritizing.
Another source with knowledge of the matter said the request was a routine process and has also been implemented with U.S. aid to Ukraine.
UK to assess Israel's compliance with humanitarian law in Gaza offensive
The United Kingdom has once again reiterated its support for Israel's right to self-defense, but British Foreign Secretary David Cameron made it clear to Israeli war cabinet minister Benny Gantz during a Wednesday meeting that Britain has "deep concern" about Israel's offensive in Gaza, in particular the prospect of a ground operation in overcrowded Rafah.
"As the occupying power in Gaza, Israel has a legal responsibility to ensure aid is available for civilians. That responsibility has consequences, including when we as the UK assess whether Israel is compliant with international humanitarian law," Cameron told Gantz, as per a statement from the British foreign office.
Meeting with @gantzbe today, I made clear the steps Israel must take to increase aid into Gaza, and the UK's deep concern about the prospect of a military offensive in Rafah.
— David Cameron (@David_Cameron) March 6, 2024
These are tough but necessary conversations. pic.twitter.com/czIR7nPOBu
Israel sets deadline in Hezbollah fire exchanges: Report
The Israeli government has threatened to wage war against Hezbollah if no diplomatic deal is reached with the Iranian-backed militant group by March 15, local media reported Thursday, citing Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar.
This comes following the displacement of thousands of northern Israel residents due to Hezbollah's continuing aggression in the region.
At least 2 injured in Iranian oil refinery blast: Local media
Iranian media outlets reported Thursday that at least two people were injured in an explosion at the Aftab oil refinery in Bandar Abbas, Iran. A maintenance operation was underway when the blast occurred, according to the reports.
State news agency IRNA said there were several deaths and injuries due to an accident at the refinery, but said there was no official statement yet, as per Reuters. Other state media outlets said there at least two injured, but mentioned no deaths.
Senior Hamas leader eliminated: IDF
Amar Atiya Darwish Eladini, whom the Israeli army described as "the head of the Hamas terrorist organization's headquarters in the Central Camp area," has been eliminated, the IDF said Wednesday, as per a Google translation. Eladini allegedly led the Palestinian militant group's rocket positioning and launching operations.
ביממה האחרונה כוחות צה"ל בהכוונת אמ״ן ושב"כ חיסלו את עמאר עטיה דרויש אלעדיני, אחראי התמ״ס של ארגון הטרור חמאס במרחב מחנות המרכז.
— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) March 6, 2024
אלעדיני שימש כפעיל בארגון עשרות שנים. במסגרת תפקידו היה אחראי להטמנת רקטות וכן היה אמון על שיגורי רקטות החל ממבצע ׳עופרת יצוקה׳ ועד למלחמה הנוכחית >> pic.twitter.com/9P6xR5Q1Zn
Hezbollah claims attack on Israeli army vehicle
Hezbollah late on Wednesday claimed that it attacked an "army vehicle at the Birkat Risha site" of the IDF near the Israeli-Lebanese border.
This comes less than two days after the Iranian-backed paramilitary organization – a much larger terror group than its ally Hamas – launched about 60 missiles toward northern Israel.
Houthis say bulk carrier attacked for not heeding terror group's warnings
Sare'e said the True Confidence was targeted by missiles "after the ship's crew rejected warning messages" from the Iranian-backed Yemeni rebel militia. He also referred to the ship as "American."
The Houthis have repeatedly vowed to continue targeting commercial shipping lanes in the Red and Arabian Seas and the Gulf of Aden as long as the Israel-Hamas war rages on.
Read the full story here.
بيانٌ صادرٌ عنِ القواتِ المسلحةِ اليمنية
— العميد يحيى سريع (@army21ye) March 6, 2024
بسمِ اللهِ الرحمنِ الرحيم
قال تعالى: { یَـٰۤأَیُّهَا ٱلَّذِینَ ءَامَنُوا۟ قَـٰتِلُوا۟ ٱلَّذِینَ یَلُونَكُم مِّنَ ٱلۡكُفَّارِ وَلۡیَجِدُوا۟ فِیكُمۡ غِلۡظَةࣰۚ وَٱعۡلَمُوۤا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلۡمُتَّقِینَ } صدقَ اللهُ العظيم
انتصاراً… pic.twitter.com/S6fx9aARF1
3 killed, 4 others injured in Houthi missile attack
Three crew members of the Barbados-flagged bulk carrier True Confidence were killed Wednesday when a missile fired from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen struck the merchant ship, CENTCOM said early Thursday.
"The missile struck the vessel, and the multinational crew reports three fatalities, at least four injuries, of which three are in critical condition, and significant damage to the ship," the U.S. military said.
Houthis Kill Innocent Civilians with Missile Attack
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 6, 2024
At approximately 11:30 a.m. (Sanaa time) Mar. 6, an anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) was launched from Iranian-backed Houthi terrorist-controlled areas of Yemen toward M/V True Confidence, a Barbados-flagged, Liberian-owned… pic.twitter.com/W1H0GP4Y6i
On Thursday morning Manila time, the Philippine Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) confirmed that two of the True Confidence crew members killed in the latest Houthi attack were Filipinos. "We were also informed that two other Filipino crewmen were severely injured in the attack on their ship," the DMW said in a statement.
The True Confidence is owned by the Liberian-registered company True Confidence Shipping. The company has denied reports that the vessel was a U.S.-owned ship, as first reported by Ambrey.
