KEY POINTS
- Blinken to press Netanyahu on 'absolute imperative' for civilian protection
- Biden says he was 'quietly' working to encourage Israel to scale back Gaza campaign
- Israeli army locates massive underground weapons production site in Gaza
The war in Gaza is now in its 95th day, with another huge loss for the Israeli army as it revealed Tuesday that nine soldiers, including four from a special operations unit, fell in Gaza clashes against Hamas Monday.
Hezbollah, a Lebanon-based terror group that is significantly larger than Hamas, on Tuesday launched drones toward Israel's Northern Command headquarters, multiple outlets reported. The Israeli army has since confirmed that a drone targeted an IDF base "in the north."
Israel is reportedly conducting "deadly strikes" in Syria following airstrikes on New Year's Day that targeted Syrian military assets.
- 4 IDF special forces unit fighters killed in Gaza
- Israeli ground troops raiding Khan Yunis Hamas infrastructure: IDF
- Herzog tells Blinken Israel will present its self-defense 'fundamental right' at ICJ
- Israel to tell Blinken it will block northern Gaza residents' return if hostages not freed: Report
- Hezbollah warns US, Israel against attacking Yemen and Lebanon
- Strike hits vehicle near home of slain senior Hezbollah commander, before his funeral: Lebanese reports
Three Hezbollah members were reportedly killed in an Israeli bombardment in southern Lebanon on Tuesday. A day earlier, the Iran-backed terror group announced that one of its senior Radwan force commanders was killed alongside another combatant in a strike by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told residents of northern Israel that the country was "in a major fight to restore security" amid continuing rocket barrages by Hezbollah toward northern Israeli communities.
Over in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli army is further intensifying its ground offensive in Khan Yunis, the known hometown of Hamas' most senior leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in Israel following his trips to other Middle Eastern countries in efforts to prevent the war from spreading.
Hamas' Oct. 7 massacre of more than 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals draws from decades of fighting in the Israel-Palestine conflict that has triggered fears of a regional spillover due to attacks by Hamas allies and pro-Iran groups toward Israel.
The live update has ended.
Strike before Hezbollah commander's funeral killed chief of terror group's drone unit: Local media
The strike that hit a car, near the home of an assassinated senior Hezbollah commander before his funeral, killed the Hezbollah leader "who commanded the launch" of drones to the IDF's Northern Command base, local N12 News reported Tuesday afternoon.
International Business Times cannot independently verify the report. The Israeli army and Hezbollah have yet to confirm the report.
