At the conclusion of his visit to Lebanon, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian said today, Saturday (February 10, 2024), that his country Exchanging letters with the United States Since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza four months ago, including messages related to the Lebanese Hezbollah group.
Abdullahian added through a translator during a press conference at the end of a day-long visit to Beirut: “During this war and in the past few weeks, an exchange of messages occurred between Iran and America.” He continued, saying that Washington called on Tehran to demand that Hezbollah “not engage widely and completely in this war against” Israel.
Many countries consider Lebanese Hezbollah, or its military wing, a terrorist organization. These countries include the United States, European Union countries, Britain, and member states of the League of Arab States. Germany also banned the party’s activity on its territory in 2020 and classified it as a “terrorist organization.”
Israel launched a war that it says aims to destroy Hamas after the latter launched a cross-border terrorist attack on southern Israel in October 7th.
The conflict has spread throughout the region, and earlier this month Washington launched strikes on groups allied with Iran in Iraq, Syria and Yemen in response to an attack that led to the death of three American soldiers in Jordan.
Abdullahian arrived in Beirut on Friday and met today, Saturday, with the caretaker Lebanese Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Secretary-General. For Hezbollah Hassan Nasrallah, representatives of Palestinian factions, and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.
Syrian media reported that the Iranian minister is scheduled to go to… Syria To meet with senior officials there.
Warning of a massive attack on Lebanon
The Lebanese authorities had previously indicated that French Foreign Minister Stephane Ségornet had warned during his visit to Beirut that Israel might launch a war against Lebanon to “return” tens of thousands of residents who were evacuated from the regions of northern Israel, but Iranian Minister Abdullahian considered on Saturday that Israel will not be able to fight on two fronts He said that Israel’s move to launch a large-scale attack on Lebanon “would mark the end” of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He added to reporters during his third visit to Lebanon since the start of the war in Gaza, that Iran believes that a political solution is the only way to end the war in Gaza.
Amir Abdullahian said in a press conference earlier today, Saturday, alongside his Lebanese counterpart, Abdullah Bou Habib, “Iran and Lebanon confirm that war is not the solution, and that we have never sought to expand it.” He added that Tehran is holding talks with Saudi Arabia to reach a political solution Puts an end to the fighting in Gaza.
It is noteworthy that the Hamas movement is a Palestinian Islamic armed group, classified by Germany, the European Union, and the United States as a terrorist organization.
“A Hamas leader survived an Israeli march”
In a related context, a leader in the Hamas movement survived an Israeli strike that targeted him in Lebanon on Saturday, according to local and Palestinian security sources. Lebanese official media reported that an Israeli drone targeted a car in the coastal town of Jadra, located more than 40 kilometers from the nearest border point with Israel. A Palestinian security source, who requested to remain anonymous, told AFP that the strike was a “failed assassination attempt on a senior leader” in the Hamas movement.
A Lebanese security source, who in turn requested to remain anonymous, indicated that the targeted leader is Basil Saleh, explaining that he is “an official in charge of a recruitment unit in the West Bank.” He reported that the target was one of Azzam Al-Aqra’a’s aides, who was assassinated along with him Saleh Al-Arouri Last month, he confirmed that “Saleh survived, but suffered burns in his back and was subsequently transferred to the hospital for treatment.” He explained that a missile first targeted Saleh’s car, a white Mercedes, followed by a second missile while residents of the town gathered at the place, “resulting in two deaths.”
There has been no comment yet from either Hamas, which has a presence in Lebanon, or the Israeli army.
p.sh/khs/z.ap (Reuters, AFP)
The Israel-Hamas war – a heavy toll and efforts to stop the fighting
More than 11,000 dead in Gaza, according to Hamas figures, and 1,200 dead in Israel, in addition to more than 200 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, which suffered massive destruction as a result of the Israeli bombing. Here is a glimpse into the heavy toll of the war between Israel and Hamas.
Image from: AFP
A surprise attack by Hamas
In a surprising move, Hamas, classified as a terrorist movement by the United States, the European Union and other countries, launched a terrorist attack on Israel on Saturday, October 7, 2023, by launching a barrage of rockets towards Israeli towns and cities, in addition to a number of gunmen penetrating the fence. The border established by Israel around Gaza.
Image from: Ilia yefimovich/dpa/picture alliance
Hundreds dead and more than 200 hostages
The shocking attack was considered by Washington to be “the worst attack against Israel since 1973.” The Israeli death toll reached 1,400 (revised on 11 November to 1,200), according to the IDF, with hundreds wounded, and more than 240 others being taken hostage in the Gaza Strip.
Image: Ohad Zwigenberg/AP/picture alliance
Israeli reactions to the terrorist attack
Shortly after the attack, the Israeli army launched Operation Iron Swords and bombed targets in the Gaza Strip. According to Hamas health authorities, more than 11,000 people were killed (as of November 8, 2023). This number cannot be independently verified. On October 9, Israel began besieging the Gaza Strip and cutting off electricity, food, and water supplies to the Strip’s 2.4 million residents.
Image from: Menahem Kahana/AFP/Getty Images
Political unity
Israel, deeply divided internally, formed an emergency “national unity” government on October 11. Opposition politician Benny Gantz joined the government. In addition, a five-member “crisis management” government was formed, which includes Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Galant, and Benny Gantz. Former Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer (from the Likud Party) also have observer status in this body. .
Image from: Abir Sultan via REUTERS
Clashes on the border with Lebanon
Shortly after the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel, clashes occurred on Israel’s northern border with Lebanon. Several people, including journalists, were killed in the exchange of bombing between Israel and the Shiite Hezbollah militia. Members of the United Nations observer mission in Lebanon are also stuck between the front lines.
Image: Hussein Malla/AP/picture alliance
Hezbollah’s reaction
On November 3, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah threatened to escalate the conflict in his first speech since the war began. However, there was no expansion of the limited fighting on the Lebanese-Israeli border.
Image from: Mohamed Azakir/REUTERS
Explosion in a hospital
In Gaza City, an explosion occurred on the campus of the National Christian Hospital on October 17. Israel attributed the explosion to a missile that missed its target, launched by the Islamic Jihad movement. While Hamas accused the Israeli army. Later, US intelligence agencies estimated the death toll at “100 to 300”, while Hamas said there were at least 471 dead. As a result of this event, thousands took to the streets across the Arab world.
Image from: Ali Jadallah/Anadolu/picture alliance
Pro-Palestinian demonstrations
Pro-Palestinian demonstrations are still taking place around the world demanding a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to the siege on it. Germany alone witnessed 450 pro-Palestinian demonstrations from the start of the escalation on October 7 until November 8, 2023, according to the German Interior Minister.
Photo: Annegret Hilse/REUTERS
On October 20 and 22, Hamas released four hostages. On October 30, the Israeli army announced the release of a female soldier. At the end of October, Hamas announced its willingness to release all hostages in exchange for the release of several thousand Palestinians sentenced to prison in Israel. The hostages’ families are still demanding that more be done for their release. Some of them are calling on the government to approve the prisoner exchange.
Photo by: Federico Gambarini/dpa/picture alliance
Israeli ground attack
On October 26, Israeli tanks invaded the Gaza Strip for several hours. The evening of the next day, the Israeli army began ground attacks and advanced into Gaza. On November 5, the Israeli army announced that it had divided the Gaza Strip into two halves, with Gaza City completely besieged. Battles took place in the city. According to his statements, the Israeli army is focusing on finding and destroying the tunnels, which serve as a retreat and command base for Hamas.
Image from: Israel Defense Forces/Handout via REUTERS
Destruction and displacement in Gaza
Two American geographers revealed that after a month of war, about 15 percent of all buildings in the Gaza Strip were damaged or destroyed, noting that between 38,000 and 45,000 buildings were destroyed as a result of Israeli bombing. Meanwhile, more than 900,000 people have left northern Gaza, according to the Israeli army. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) speaks of about 1.5 million internally displaced people in the Gaza Strip, out of about 2.2 million people living in the Strip.
Image from: Bashar Taleb/APA Images via ZUMA Press/picture alliance
An American nurse described the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip as tragic. Nurse Emily Callahan was working for Doctors Without Borders in the Gaza Strip and was evacuated from there in early November. Callahan told CNN that her team “saw children with severe burns on their faces, necks, and all of their limbs,” noting that, due to overcrowding in hospitals, the children were immediately taken out and sent to refugee camps.
Image from: Adel Al Hwajre/picture alliance/ZUMAPRESS
Aid for the residents of Gaza
The first food and medical aid convoy arrived in the Gaza Strip on October 21. Israel and Egypt previously agreed to open the Rafah border crossing in the Gaza Strip. Hundreds of trucks were able to cross the border in the following days.
Image from: Mohammed Talatene/dpa/picture alliance
An international call for a ceasefire
On October 24, UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned “clear violations of international humanitarian law” in the Gaza Strip. Three days later, the UN General Assembly called for an “immediate ceasefire on humanitarian grounds” in a non-binding resolution. The UN Security Council has not yet been able to agree on a resolution.
Photo: Bebeto Matthews/AP Photo/picture alliance
International mediation efforts
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited the region several times after the October 7 Hamas attack. Other Western politicians have also held talks with the government in Israel. During his visits, Blinken emphasized Israel’s right to self-defense, but also called for the protection of the civilian population in the Gaza Strip.
Photo by: Jacquelyn Martin/Pool via REUTERS
The West supports Israel
Germany confirmed that it stands with Israel and said that it has the right to defend itself against “barbaric attacks,” but it warned of the development of the conflict. The United States announced the provision of “additional support” to its ally Israel and the movement of two aircraft carriers to the eastern Mediterranean. The European Union also condemned the attacks and expressed its solidarity with Israel. All of these parties classify Hamas as a terrorist movement.
Photo: LIESA JOHANNSSEN/REUTERS
An Arab call to stop the war
On October 21, the so-called “Peace Summit” was held in Cairo, in which many countries neighboring Israel participated, in addition to delegations from Europe. However, the conference did not yield tangible results and no final statement was issued. The Arab countries represented at the summit agreed to the Egyptian statement, which called for an “immediate cessation” of the war.
Image from: The Egyptian Presidency/REUTERS
Before the summit, the UAE described the Hamas attack as a “dangerous escalation” and stressed its “dismay over reports of the kidnapping of Israeli civilians.” Morocco condemned the targeting of civilians by any party, but referred to its previous warning of “the repercussions of the political blockage on peace.” Egypt warned of the repercussions of the “escalation” and called on the international community to urge Israel “to stop its attacks,” while Qatar confirmed its engagement in mediation talks with Hamas and Israel, including a possible exchange of prisoners.
Image from: Reuters/MA El Ghany
“Israel does not want to occupy Gaza”
Simultaneously with the advance of Israeli tanks into Gaza, Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Derm confirmed on November 8 that Israel does not want to reoccupy the Gaza Strip, indicating that after the destruction of Hamas, Israel will bear “general responsibility for security” for a “period.” Not specified.
Image from: Israeli Defense Forces/AFP
A short daily truce
Washington announced that Israel will begin a four-hour truce in northern Gaza starting on November 9 in order to allow residents to flee the hostilities, describing it as a step in the right direction. Pointing out that these truces resulted from discussions between American and Israeli officials in recent days. But Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant confirmed that the war would continue until the overthrow of Hamas and the release of the hostages held in Gaza. M.A.H
Image from: Mohammed Abed/AFP/Getty Images
2024-02-10 20:22:48
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