President Biden and Vice President Harris tell the Israeli Prime Minister they have his back…..
Some airlines halt service to the Middle East….
Everyone waits to see what Hamas , Hezbollah or Iran does in response to the Israeli’s take outs…..
The Israeli military said Thursday that its airstrike in mid-July on a Gaza compound had succeeded in killing Muhammad Deif, the leader of Hamas’s armed wing who is believed to have been one of the main planners of the Oct. 7 attacks.
The announcement came as thousands attended the funerals of major Hamas and Hezbollah leaders in Tehran and Beirut, whose assassinations have amplified fears of a wider war in the Middle East and endangered negotiations for a cease-fire in Gaza.
In a statement on Thursday, the Israeli military said its conclusion that Mr. Deif had died was based on an intelligence assessment, though it did not offer details.
The death of Mr. Deif would make him the most senior Hamas leader killed in Gaza. His fate has been unclear since Israel targeted him in a major attack that killed at least 90 people, according to Gaza health officials. Hamas has neither confirmed nor denied his death.
Israeli leaders, who have made clear that their goal is to destroy Hamas and take out senior figures in the group and other enemies, were quick to celebrate the announcement — the latest revelation in a dizzying two days that have shaken the leadership of Hamas and Hezbollah, both of which are backed by Iran….
Here’s what to know:
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In a relatively measured speech played on a screen at Mr. Shukr’s funeral, Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, condemned not just Mr. Shukr’s assassination but the killing in Tehran of Hamas’s political leader Ismail Haniyeh. Addressing Israel, he said: “You do not realize the red lines you have crossed.” He added that Hezbollah and its allies were working on “a true response, not a show response as some are trying to suggest,” but did not elaborate.
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Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken called for a cease-fire in Gaza during a news conference in Mongolia, warning that the region was on a path “toward more conflict, more violence, more suffering, more insecurity.” The assassination of Mr. Haniyeh added a new hurdle to talks, which have dragged on for months.
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It was unclear how Iran would respond to the killing of Mr. Haniyeh, but the country’s officials have said the military is considering a combination of drone and missile attacks on military targets near Tel Aviv and Haifa. In April, Iran directed a barrage of missiles and drones at Israel but calibrated that attack to avoid the risk of further escalation.
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The State Department has advised Americans not to go “within 2.5 miles of the Lebanese and Syrian borders” in northern Israel because of the tension in the region. United Airlines and Delta Air Lines suspended flights to Israel.
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President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel that the United States continues to support Israel’s efforts to defend itself against ballistic missiles and drones with new defensive military deployments. Biden reaffirmed his commitment to Israel’s defense in a call with the prime minister and stressed the need to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East….