Israel NOW may have a two front conflict/war if it doesn’t find some kind of ‘Deal’ for Gaza……
As expected….Israel trikes back at Hezbollah after their attack which caused Israeli civilian deaths and injuries….
Israel’s security cabinet — which met on Sunday afternoon after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned from the United States — authorized the prime minister and defense minister to decide on the “manner and timing” of the response against Hezbollah, according to a statement issued by Netanyahu’s office Sunday evening.
Israel, citing military intelligence and an assessment of the scene, blamed the Saturday strike in Majdal Shams on Hezbollah, as did the United States. “This attack was conducted by Lebanese Hezbollah,” National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said in a statement Sunday. “It was their rocket, and launched from an area they control.”….
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US warns Israel against attacking Beirut….
The Biden administration warned Israel if it hits Hezbollah targets in Beirut in response to a deadly strike on the Golan Heights on Saturday “the situation would likely spiral out of control,” according to one Israeli official and one U.S. official.
Why it matters: The Israeli security cabinet convened on Sunday to discuss the military response to the rocket attack that killed 12 children and teenagers, including an option to conduct strikes in Lebanon’s capital, Israeli officials said.
- Israel blamed Saturday’s deadly strike on Hezbollah and U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, said it is the U.S. assessment that Hezbollah fired the rocket. Hezbollah denied responsibility.
The big picture: Israel Defense Forces have conducted airstrikes on Hezbollah positions and command centers in Lebanon since Oct. 8 of last year after Hezbollah launched rockets into Israel in support of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel.
- Israel and Hezbollah both said they conducted strikes overnight Saturday into Sunday after the Golan Heights attack.
- But Israel has so far not targeted Hezbollah in Beirut.
- U.S. and Israeli officials agree that an all out war between Israel and Hezbollah would cause huge destruction on both sides and could lead to a regional war…..
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Cease Fire talks with Hamas continue
Senior officials from Israel, Egypt, Qatar and the United States met in Rome on Sunday to continue negotiations over a cease-fire in Gaza, according to three officials involved in or briefed on the talks and a statement from the Israeli government. The talks came as tensions mounted in the region amid growing violence along the border between Israel and Lebanon.
The officials at the daylong talks in Rome were pushing to forge a truce in which Israeli hostages held captive by Hamas would be exchanged for hundreds of Palestinians jailed by Israel under a plan that has been discussed for months. Qatar hosts part of the Hamas leadership and, along with Egypt, plays a key role in mediating between the two sides.
The Israeli government announced on Sunday evening that its representative at the meeting, David Barnea, Israel’s foreign intelligence chief, had already returned home and that negotiations would resume in the coming days. The statement did not give further details.
Despite progress in recent weeks, the monthslong negotiations remain stalled over several critical issues, particularly the extent to which Israeli forces would remain in Gaza during a truce, according to seven officials involved in or briefed on the talks….