Israeli drones carried out a strike today on a car in southern Lebanon’s Tyre District, killing at least one. The slain was identified as Muhammad Ahmed Ayoub, a Hezbollah commander in the area. Hezbollah confirmed his identity.
Israel has increasingly carried out drone strikes on vehicles across southern Lebanon, generally targeting Hezbollah members but at times also killing nearby bystanders. The total Hezbollah death toll since October is 342.
The attack comes as US special envoy Amos Hochstein arrives in Israel to discuss the situation in Lebanon. Hochstein met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and others, as well as, separately, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
Earlier in the day, Hochstein met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, in a discussion that focused on securing northern Israel so that the tens of thousands of displaced could ultimately return home.
Herzog maintained that recovering the hostages from the Gaza Strip is key to resolving the northern conflict. The hostages are central to a ceasefire in Gaza, and Hezbollah has said any ceasefire in Lebanon would be conditioned on calm returning to Gaza.
Israeli government spokesman David Mencer confirmed the meeting with Netanyahu, which focused on the “relentless attacks” from Hezbollah and insisted all such attacks are “instigated by Iran.”
Although in theory Hochstein is attempting to calm the situation and preempt an Israeli invasion of Lebanon, Israel is said to be planning an all-out war if talks fail. The US is reportedly concerned about being drawn into this war, but Hochstein’s visit may also suggest that with Israel treating war as inevitable, the US is viewing it in the same way, and seeking some sort of planned participation in the conflict.
The discussions come one day after an IDF spokesman announced that Hezbollah’s “increasing aggression” threatens to lead to a wider war.
"Hochstein’s visit may also suggest that with Israel treating war as inevitable, the US is viewing it in the same way, and seeking some sort of planned participation in the conflict."
You mean other than faking deep concern, setting non-existent Red Lines, creating imaginary Israeli ceasefires or mortgaging the income of future generations in Israeli aid to keep it's Billionairs happy ?
You know one of two things is going to happen to the US as a result of Israel's war: either a lot of this Administration is going to a Hague jail for complicity in Genocide or this country is going to experience a depression so deep it makes the Great Depression look like a missed paycheck.
I suppose there is always a third outcome – our Cretinous Crew of Certifiable Crazies actually gets us into WW3 to prove how Exceptional we already know they are everything not.
Divide & conquer. Hochstein is attempting to split (1) Hezbollah from Hamas/Gaza and (2) Lebonese Army from Hezbollah.
Sounds like a good plan.
We can greatly help Hezbollah and Hamas but Israel has been neutral on Russia’s liberation of Ukraine so we will see.
Russia could help Syria (1) against Iraeli violations of its airspace and (2) its claim to the Golan Heights.
This group has too many commanders and not enough generals.
Israel better not hit our Russian advisors because we will respond not nicely with our advanced weapons.
That will just get them more dead Israeli soldiers. They kill one Hezbollah, Hezbollah kills a half dozen Israelis.
Israel's not gonna win that game any more than they are in Gaza.
"Hochstein’s visit may also suggest that with Israel treating war as inevitable, the US is viewing it in the same way, and seeking some sort of planned participation in the conflict."
DUH! What have I been saying since October 7? THIS IS A PLANNED WAR. People need to get a clue. Alastair Crooke is the only one who gets it.
To further the land grab, and, kill or displace all Palestinians. So what if there are a few decapitated babies. All to further the "defense" of Israel.