KEY POINTS
- Israel shoots down aerial target launched from Syrian territory
- US adds freeing all hostages in UN resolution seeking "immediate ceasefire"
- World Food Program says Israel turned back 14-truck food convoy
On Day 152 of the Israel-Hamas war, tensions in the Middle East surged to exasperating highs. In the Houthi-disrupted Red Sea, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported Wednesday that it received a report of another attack on a commercial ship off Yemen's Aden, which Ambrey said was a U.S.-flagged vessel.
The U.S. has reportedly floated the idea of a short humanitarian pause that does not include the release of hostages still in Hamas captivity while details of a larger ceasefire-hostage exchange agreement are being ironed out.
- Drone targets car near Hezbollah, IRGC stronghold in Syria: Report
- Israel's NSC tells Israelis to take caution when traveling during Ramadan month
- Israel to deliver response to Hamas truce proposal Wednesday: Report
- Hamas reportedly wants Barghouti freed in 'final' truce offer
- Israel strikes Hezbollah sites after missile salvo toward northern Israel
- 3 crew members reported missing from ship attacked off Aden; 4 others sustained serious burns
- House Democrats say Rafah invasion 'would likely' violate US aid rules
The Middle East conflict continues to reach worrisome highs as Iranian-backed Hezbollah allegedly fired 60 missiles toward northern Israel. The heavily armed and powerful Lebanon-based terror group has vowed continuous aggression toward Israel until the war in Gaza ends.
Forces with the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) have shot down missiles and drones launched from areas in Yemen controlled by Iranian-backed Houthi rebel militants. The U.S. army said the operation was carried out amid attempted attacks on an American destroyer.
Back in Gaza, a lack of humanitarian aid for Palestinian civilians has reportedly agitated the United Kingdom. British Foreign Secretary David Cameron is expected to inform Israeli war cabinet minister Benny Gantz that the UK is running out of patience over the aid issue.
Amid talks for a truce in the fighting between the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Hamas militants, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly said Israel was not prepared to yield to the Palestinian militant group's "delusional demands" for the release of Israeli hostages.
Fighting in Gaza stems from a violent history of the Israel-Palestine conflict that has left Israeli and Palestinian civilians alike suffering from unending fire exchanges and displacement.
The live update has ended.
Democrats say Rafah ground raid may violate US aid rules: Report
A large group of House Democrats have warned U.S. President Joe Biden in a letter that an invasion of Rafah by Israel "would likely contravene" a memorandum signed by the president last month that required American aid recipients to ensure that they abide by international laws.
The letter, which was first reported by Axios, urged the American president to "use every tool at your disposal to ensure" that countries receiving U.S. support are held accountable to commitments as demanded by the memorandum.
This comes amid mounting pressure on Israel to refrain from launching a ground operation in Rafah, an overcrowded city in southern Gaza where it is believed the population has reached over a million due to war displacement.
