Israel Hezbollah Conflict Live Updates: 'Israeli army launches operation in West Bank'

Israeli forces sent tanks deeper into Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip and launched strikes across the enclave as they battled Hamas-led militants, killing at least 34 Palestinians on Wednesday, according to medics.

Residents of Khan Younis said Israeli tanks made a surprise advance into the centre of the city, and the military ordered evacuations in the east, forcing many families to run for safety, while others were trapped at home.

Palestinian health officials said the Israeli strikes in Khan Younis killed at least 11 people.

In the central city of Deir Al-Balah, where at least a million people were sheltering, an Israeli airstrike killed eight Palestinians near a school housing displaced families, medics said.

In Nuseirat, in the central Gaza Strip, journalist Mohammed Abed-Rabbo was killed along with his sister in an Israeli attack on their house, medics said. Gaza's Hamas-run government media office said Abed-Rabbo's death raised the number of Palestinian journalists killed by Israeli fire to 172 since Oct. 7.

The Israeli military said on Wednesday it had "failed" in its response to a settler attack in the occupied West Bank earlier this month that Palestinian officials said killed one man.
The August 15 raid on the northern West Bank village of Jit came amid soaring violence in the Palestinian territory during the Gaza war and growing international concern over an uptick in attacks by Jewish settlers.

Major General Avi Bluth, head of the military's Central Command which operates in the West Bank, was quoted in a statement as saying the attack was "a very serious terror incident in which Israelis set out to deliberately harm the residents of the town of Jit, and we failed by not succeeding to arrive earlier to protect them".

Jit residents have said about 100 settlers armed with knives and firearms set fire to cars and homes in the village.

The military, releasing on Wednesday a summary of its investigation, said the group wore masks, threw rocks and Molotov cocktails and set three vehicles and two buildings on fire.

The Palestinian health ministry said a 23-year-old Palestinian man, Rashid Sada, was shot dead in the attack.

Israel's West Bank raids risk 'deepening the already catastrophic situation': UN

The Israeli military said Wednesday it killed a "significant" Palestinian Islamic Jihad operative in a strike in the Syria-Lebanon border area, while a monitor of Syria's conflict reported four dead in the incident.

The Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of Islamic Jihad, said in a statement that three of its fighters "from the Syrian arena" were killed, while Lebanon's Hezbollah issued a statement saying a fighter was killed, without specifying where.

The Israeli air force "struck and eliminated... a significant terrorist in the Islamic Jihad terrorist organisation's operations division, in the area of the Syrian-Lebanese border," an Israeli military statement said.

The operative was "responsible for the development of the Islamic Jihad's operational plans in Syria and Lebanon", the statement said, adding he had played "a central role" in recruiting Palestinians for Hezbollah, which is also an ally of Palestinian militant group Hamas.

"Additional Islamic Jihad terrorists who were on their way from Syria to carry out terrorist activities" in Lebanon for Hezbollah were also "eliminated" in the strike, the statement said.

Slovakia's government approved plans on Wednesday to buy six mobile air defence systems from Israel for 554.3 million euros ($616.88 million), it said on its website, as the NATO member state strengthens protection of its airspace.

The government also approved the purchase of more than 1,300 6x6 and 8x8 heavy terrain vehicles in a joint acquisition with the Czech Republic, at an expected cost of 708.3 million euros, which will replace ageing trucks.

Slovakia, whose neighbour Ukraine has fought against a Russian invasion since 2022, has sought to boost air defence capabilities.

It has been part of NATO efforts to bolster the military alliance's eastern flank. Defence Minister Robert Kalinak has said priorities should be on defence capabilities, especially air defence.

Last month, it received delivery of the first two of 14 new F-16 fighter jets.

Israel launched a large-scale military operation Wednesday in the occupied West Bank, where the army said it killed nine Palestinian fighters, while the nearly 11-month Gaza war showed no signs of abating.
Violence has surged in the West Bank during the Gaza war sparked by Palestinian Islamist group Hamas's unprecedented October 7 attacks on Israel.

The war has killed more than 40,000 people in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry. It has also caused widespread destruction, displaced nearly all of Gaza's 2.4 million people at least once and triggered a humanitarian crisis.

In the West Bank in the early hours of Wednesday, the Israeli military launched a series of coordinated raids across four cities -- Jenin, Nablus, Tubas and Tulkarem.

Columns of Israeli armoured vehicles entered two refugee camps, in Tulkarem and Tubas, as well as Jenin.

By midday, they were blocking entrances to the towns and camps, AFP photographers said, with soldiers firing at the camps from which gunfire and explosions were heard.

Israeli bulldozers dug up the asphalt from the streets, with the army saying it was looking for roadside bombs.

Palestinian health officials say Israeli forces killed nine Palestinians in two raids in the occupied West Bank, as the military appeared to launch operations in several cities at once.
The Palestinian Health Ministry said two men were killed in Jenin and seven in Tubas early Wednesday. The ministry identified the two killed in Jenin as Qassam Muhammad Jabarin, 25, and Asem Walid Balout, 39.

Terrorism is a disease that will not stop unless all like-minded nations fight against it, a top Israeli official has said, asserting that his country will win the war against terror amid the escalating tensions in West Asia. Talking to reporters here on Tuesday, Yakoov Blitshtein, Director General of Foreign Affairs of Israel, said it was necessary to put an end to terror in Israel and all other places.

"Terrorism is a disease that we must face (fight), not only in Israel but in the entire world. This is a disease that will not stop unless all of us, like-minded countries, fight against it," he said.

Referring to the terror attack by Hamas on Israel in October 2023, Blitshtein said the country is in difficult times but shall overcome it.

"We will build new cities, new homes and bring back all the citizens to their homes, to their villages, to their kibbutz, to the cities. We will win the war against terrorism," he said.

At least 7 people were killed in Israeli strikes on Jenin and Tubas‮ ‬in the West Bank, Palestinian health authorities said on Wednesday.

In a joint statement released on Telegram by army spokesman Avichay Adraee and Israel's Shin Bet security service, it was stated that "Security forces have now launched an operation to thwart terrorism in Jenin and Tulkarm."

This operation follows an Israeli air strike on the West Bank two days prior, which the Palestinian Authority reported resulted in the deaths of five people.

The ongoing violence in the West Bank has escalated concurrently with the war in Gaza. According to an AFP tally based on figures provided by the Palestinian health ministry, Israeli troops and settlers have killed more than 640 Palestinians since Hamas's attack on October 7.

Qaid Farhan Alkadi was alone underground Tuesday after 326 days of captivity in Gaza when Israeli forces scouring Hamas’ vast tunnel network found and freed him.
“Suddenly, I heard someone speaking Hebrew outside the door, I couldn’t believe it, I couldn’t believe it,” Alkadi, 52, recounted from an Israeli hospital during a phone call with Israel’s president as his large Bedouin Arab family gathered around his bedside in a joyful reunion.

He was the eighth hostage to be rescued by Israeli forces since about 250 were kidnapped during the Oct. 7 attack that ignited the war, and the first to be found alive underground. The rescue brought a rare moment of relief to Israelis after 10 months of war but also served as a painful reminder that dozens of hostages are still in captivity as international mediators try to broker a cease-fire in which they would be released.

Abdel-Rahman Abuel-Jedian, a 10-month-old infant, was born amidst the devastating Israel-Hamas war. He began crawling early, but one day, he suddenly stopped, with his left leg appearing to be paralyzed. According to the World Health Organization, Abdel-Rahman is the first confirmed case of polio in Gaza in 25 years.

Nevine Abuel-Jedian, the child's mother, struggled to hold back tears as she described her son's condition. "Suddenly, that was reversed. Suddenly, he stopped crawling, stopped moving, stopped standing up, and stopped sitting."

Health care workers in Gaza have been cautioning about the possibility of a polio outbreak for months, as the humanitarian crisis caused by Israel's offensive on the strip continues to worsen. The diagnosis of Abdel-Rahman confirms the worst fears of health workers.

Prior to the war, the majority of Gaza's children were vaccinated against polio, according to the WHO. However, Abdel-Rahman was not vaccinated because he was born just before Oct. 7, when Hamas militants attacked Israel, and Israel launched a retaliatory offensive on Gaza, forcing his family to flee almost immediately. Hospitals were attacked, and regular vaccinations for newborns were nearly halted.

The WHO states that for every case of paralysis caused by polio, there are likely hundreds more who have been infected but are not exhibiting symptoms. Most individuals who contract the disease do not experience symptoms, and those who do usually recover within a week or so. However, there is no cure, and when polio causes paralysis, it is usually permanent. If the paralysis affects breathing muscles, the disease can be fatal.

Israeli security forces initiated an operation in the northern region of the occupied West Bank early Wednesday morning, as confirmed by a military spokesman. The Palestinian health ministry reported that two individuals, aged 25 and 39, lost their lives in the city of Jenin during the operation.

In a joint statement released on Telegram by army spokesman Avichay Adraee and Israel's Shin Bet security service, it was stated that "Security forces have now launched an operation to thwart terrorism in Jenin and Tulkarm."

This operation follows an Israeli air strike on the West Bank two days prior, which the Palestinian Authority reported resulted in the deaths of five people.

The ongoing violence in the West Bank has escalated concurrently with the war in Gaza. According to an AFP tally based on figures provided by the Palestinian health ministry, Israeli troops and settlers have killed more than 640 Palestinians since Hamas's attack on October 7.

According to two security sources who spoke to Reuters, an Israeli air strike targeted a pickup truck in northeast Lebanon late on Tuesday. The strike occurred near Chaat, a remote area close to the Syrian border, but the driver survived the attack.

One of the sources suggested that the pickup truck was likely carrying a damaged rocket launcher that was being transported for repairs when it was hit by the Israeli strike.

This incident occurred just two days after Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group, and the Israeli military engaged in a significant exchange of fire, which was one of the most intense confrontations between them in the past 10 months. There were concerns that Israel's ongoing war in Gaza could escalate into a broader regional conflict.

On Sunday morning, Hezbollah launched drones and rockets at Israel in retaliation for the killing of a top military commander by Israel last month.

Israel claimed that its strikes on Lebanon on Sunday successfully destroyed Hezbollah's rocket launch sites and thwarted a more extensive attack by the group. However, Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah stated that the attack had proceeded as planned and that the subsequent Israeli strikes had only damaged some of Hezbollah's launch sites.

On Tuesday, Israeli forces successfully rescued a hostage who was discovered alone in an underground tunnel in Gaza. This marks the first time a living captive has been freed from Hamas' extensive tunnel network since the attack on October 7 that sparked the war. The rescued individual, a 52-year-old Israeli man, was transported to a hospital in Israel where his large Bedouin Arab family gathered at his bedside, resulting in a joyous reunion.

While the rescue provided a brief moment of relief for Israelis after 10 months of conflict, it also served as a sobering reminder that numerous hostages remain in captivity as international mediators work to negotiate a cease-fire that would secure their release. Qaid Farhan Alkadi was located in a tunnel in southern Gaza, where hostages were believed to be held alongside militants and explosives, according to military sources.

"Suddenly, I heard someone speaking Hebrew outside the door, I couldn't believe it, I couldn't believe it," Alkadi shared with Israeli President Isaac Herzog during a phone call from his hospital bed, as reported by the president's office. The military stated that they applied "lessons" learned from previous operations during the rescue of Alkadi. Earlier in the war, Israeli troops accidentally shot and killed three hostages they encountered inside Gaza, mistaking them for militants.

An Israeli soldier sustained injuries in northern Israel due to an attack by a "hostile aircraft" originating from Lebanon, according to a statement released by the military on Tuesday. Although the specific type of aircraft was not disclosed, such incidents are commonly associated with drone attacks.

The injured soldier received prompt medical attention and was transported to a hospital for further treatment.

According to the Israeli military, a "terrorist cell" linked to a Hezbollah military structure was identified operating in the vicinity of Odaisseh, located in southern Lebanon. In response, the military launched a targeted strike against the structure, successfully neutralizing the cell.

Additionally, Israeli artillery units conducted strikes in the southern Lebanese regions of Chebaa and Yarine. (Reuters)

The White House national security spokesperson, John Kirby, reaffirmed the United States' commitment to protecting Israel in the event of an Iranian attack during an interview with Israel's Channel 12 on Tuesday. Kirby also expressed optimism about the possibility of a ceasefire agreement in Gaza.

While acknowledging the difficulty in predicting the likelihood of an attack, Kirby emphasized that the White House takes Iranian statements seriously. He stated, "We believe that they are still postured and poised to launch an attack should they want to do that, which is why we have that enhanced force posture in the region."

Kirby reiterated the United States' consistent messaging to Iran, urging them not to escalate the situation and warning of the potential consequences of starting a regional war. He said, "Our messaging to Iran is consistent, has been and will stay consistent. One, don't do it. There's no reason to escalate this. There's no reason to potentially start some sort of all-out regional war. And number two, we are going to be prepared to defend Israel if it comes to that."

The heightened tensions come in the wake of the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh during his visit to Tehran last month, an incident that Iran has blamed on Israel. Although Israel has not confirmed or denied its involvement, the US maintains a significant military presence in the Middle East, including two aircraft-carrier strike groups and an additional squadron of F-22 fighter jets, to ensure its readiness to respond to any potential threats. (Reuters)

The Israeli military said Tuesday that it has rescued one of the scores of people abducted in Hamas' October 7 attack, which ignited the ongoing war in Gaza. The rescue brought a rare moment of joy to Israelis amid months of grinding war but also another painful reminder of the scores of hostages remaining in captivity despite international efforts to broker a cease-fire agreement in which they would be released.

The military said Qaid Farhan Alkadi was rescued from a tunnel "in a complex operation in the southern Gaza Strip," without providing further details. It was not immediately known if the rescue was made under fire or if anyone was killed or wounded during the operation.

The 52-year-old was one of eight members of Israel's Arab Bedouin minority who were abducted on October 7. He was working as a guard at a packing factory in Kibbutz Magen, one of several farming communities that came under attack. He has two wives and is the father of 11 children.

Israel's Channel 12 showed Alkadi's family members sprinting through the hospital where he was brought after they received the news.

The Consulate General of Israel in Bengaluru on Tuesday announced the appointment of Orli Weitzman as the new Consul General of Israel to South India. Weitzman brings a wealth of diplomatic experience and a strong commitment to strengthening the ties between Israel and India, they said.

In a statement, the Consulate General of Israel said that Weitzman has held various key positions within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel. Her prior roles have equipped her with a deep understanding of international relations, trade, and cultural exchange.

As Consul General, Weitzman aims to foster greater cooperation in areas such as innovation, technology, agriculture, and education, building on the strong foundation of friendship and collaboration between the two nations.

Palestinian officials say Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip have killed at least 18 people, including eight children.
The Civil Defense, first responders who operate under the Hamas-run government, said three children and their mother were killed in an airstrike late Monday in the Tufah neighborhood of Gaza City. It said three other people were missing after the strike.

Another strike late Monday hit a building in downtown Gaza City, killing a child, three women and a man, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

In southern Gaza, a strike on a home early Tuesday killed five people, including a man, his three children as young as 3 years old and a woman, according to a casualty list provided by Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, where the bodies were taken.

Another airstrike early Tuesday flattened a home west of Khan Younis, killing at least four people, including a child, according to Nasser Hospital, where the dead were taken. Footage shared online showed residents digging through the rubble. A man carried a wounded child to an ambulance, while two others carried a dead body wrapped in a blanket.

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that 90 per cent of the rocket launches carried out last night by Hezbollah terrorists were launched from the heart of a civilian population centre in Lebanon and near civilian facilities- mosques, schools, UN compounds, and more.

In the attack, about 230 launches and about 20 aerial targets were identified that crossed towards the territory of the State of Israel from Lebanon.

"The terrorist organization Hezbollah places its terrorist infrastructure in the heart of the civilian population while using Lebanese citizens as human shields," said the IDF.

Iran commended Hezbollah's drone and missile strike against Israel on Monday, asserting that its long-time adversary had become incapable of thwarting such assaults amidst escalating tensions in the region. The Iranian foreign ministry spokesman, Nasser Kanani, expressed this sentiment on the social media platform X.
According to Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of the Tehran-backed Hezbollah, the organization carried out a significant offensive against Israel on Sunday, specifically targeting "the Glilot base -- the main Israeli military intelligence base". However, the Israeli military stated that the facility remained unscathed.

Itamar Ben Gvir, a far-right Israeli minister, has once again sparked controversy with his recent comments about the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem. In an interview with Army Radio, Ben Gvir expressed his desire to construct a synagogue at the site, which is considered the third holiest in Islam and a significant symbol for Palestinians. This statement directly challenges the government's long-standing policy prohibiting Jewish prayer at the compound.

The minister's remarks have drawn fresh outrage, as the Al-Aqsa compound, also known as the Temple Mount to Jews, holds immense religious significance for both Muslims and Jews. While it is Islam's third holiest site, it is also revered by Jews as the location of the second temple, which was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD. Ben Gvir further stated, "If I could do anything I wanted, I would put an Israeli flag on the site."

On Monday, Yoav Gallant, Israel's minister of defence, engaged in a strategic discussion with Gen Charles Brown, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the United States military, during the latter's official visit to Israel. The discussion centered around the critical juncture that Israel currently faces as it strives to achieve its objectives in the ongoing conflict, which include dismantling the Hamas terrorist organization, securing the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, and altering the security situation along Israel's northern border with Lebanon to enable the safe return of evacuated communities to their homes.

During the discussion on Iran, Minister Gallant emphasized the unprecedented level of aggressive activities and Iran's relentless pursuit of nuclear capabilities. He stressed the importance of Israel and the United States being prepared at all times to fulfill their shared commitment to prevent Iran from acquiring military nuclear weapons. "Iran's aggression has reached an all-time high - to counter this, we must work together to achieve and project groundbreaking capabilities in all arenas," said Gallant. (ANI)

The risk of a wider Middle East war has eased slightly after Israel and Hezbollah exchanged fire without further escalation, but Iran remains a significant threat, according to General C.Q. Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Brown, speaking to Reuters after a three-day Middle East trip, noted that Hezbollah's recent rocket attack on Israel, followed by Israel's response, resulted in limited damage and no immediate escalation.

However, Iran's potential retaliation for the killing of a Hamas leader in Tehran still poses a danger. "The immediate risk of a regional war has somewhat declined," Brown said, emphasizing that Iran's next move could determine whether a broader conflict erupts.

Israel and Hezbollah appeared to be satisfied with the outcome of Sunday's missile attack, which was largely thwarted by pre-emptive Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon. The attack was in retaliation for the killing of a senior Hezbollah commander in Beirut last month.

Israeli government spokesperson David Mencer stated that Hezbollah had suffered a "crushing blow" from the Israeli strikes, but emphasized that a more permanent solution was necessary. "The current situation is not sustainable," he told a briefing, referring to the tens of thousands evacuated from their homes in northern Israel, a situation mirrored on the other side of the border in southern Lebanon. "Israel will do its duty and return its population to our sovereign territory."

The hopes of children returning to school in September have diminished, and financial assistance for evacuated residents has been extended until Sept. 30.

Despite the setback, there was some optimism that the exchange of fire, which did not result in the extensive damage many in Israel had anticipated, might facilitate talks aimed at ending the fighting in Gaza and securing the return of Israeli and foreign hostages.

On Monday, an Israeli strike targeted the Nur Shams refugee camp located in the West Bank, resulting in the deaths of five Palestinians, according to a statement released by the Palestinian health ministry.

The Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, a primary healthcare facility serving central Gaza, has been witnessing a gradual exodus of patients and staff in recent days. Although the Israeli military has not directly ordered the hospital's evacuation, the fear of being caught in the crossfire or targeted in a raid has driven many to seek safety elsewhere. The evacuation orders from Israel now encompass nearly 84% of Gaza's territory, as reported by the United Nations.

On Monday, Israeli strikes claimed the lives of at least 12 people in Gaza City and Khan Younis, according to local officials. Simultaneously, the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah reignited across the Lebanon border. Throughout the 10-month war, Israeli forces have entered several hospitals in Gaza, alleging that Hamas was utilizing them for military purposes, claims that Palestinian health officials have consistently refuted.

The United Nations estimates that approximately 90% of Gaza's 2.3 million residents have been displaced from their homes, with many experiencing multiple displacements. Overcrowded tent camps along the coast now shelter hundreds of thousands of people, often lacking basic public services. Associated Press reporters witnessed the exodus from the hospital and its surrounding areas on Monday, with people fleeing on foot, pushing patients on stretchers, carrying sick children, and clutching bags filled with essential belongings such as clothes, mattresses, and blankets. Four nearby schools are also undergoing evacuation. (AP)

Israel's Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir reiterated his demand for Jewish prayer rights at the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, sparking intense backlash for escalating tensions amid ongoing ceasefire negotiations to end the conflict in Gaza.

In an Army Radio interview, Ben-Gvir asserted, "The policy at the Temple Mount allows praying there. Period. The prime minister knew when I joined the government there would not be any discrimination. Muslims are allowed to pray and a Jew is not allowed to pray?" When asked if he would construct a synagogue at the site if given the opportunity, Ben-Gvir responded, "Yes, Yes".

Following Ben-Gvir's comments, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office swiftly issued a statement reaffirming Israel's long-standing position, which upholds the decades-old regulations limiting non-Muslim prayer at the mosque compound, known to Jews as the Temple Mount, who consider it the location of two ancient temples. The statement emphasized, "There is no change to the status quo on the Temple Mount."

The Old City of Jerusalem is home to the hillside compound, one of the most delicate and sacred sites in the Middle East for both Muslims and Jews, and has been a catalyst for recurrent conflicts. Nabil Abu Rudeineh, a spokesperson for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, warned that attempts to alter the status of Al-Aqsa seemed aimed at "drag[ging] the region into a religious war that will burn everyone." (Reuters)

Discussions in Cairo aimed at achieving a ceasefire in Gaza and a hostage exchange are still ongoing, according to White House national security spokesperson John Kirby. He stated that the talks will proceed at the working-group level over the next few days to resolve specific details.

Kirby dismissed suggestions that the negotiations have stalled, emphasizing that they were, in fact, "constructive". He explained that the talks had advanced to a point where the logical next step was to form working groups at lower levels to finalize the finer points.

Brett McGurk, President Joe Biden's top Middle East aide at the White House and a participant in the talks, will depart Cairo soon after extending his stay by an extra day to initiate the working-group discussions, Kirby said.

One of the key issues to be addressed by the working groups is the exchange of hostages held by Hamas and Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, Kirby noted. The details to be ironed out include the number of hostages to be exchanged, their identities, and the timeline for their potential release.

Despite months of intermittent talks, an agreement to end Israel's military campaign in Gaza or secure the release of the remaining hostages captured by Hamas in the militant group's Oct. 7 attack on Israel, which sparked the war, has not been reached.

The latest round of negotiations took place against the backdrop of a potential regional escalation. Over the weekend, Hezbollah launched hundreds of rockets and drones at Israel, prompting Israel's military to respond with around 100 jets to prevent a larger attack. (Reuters)

On Monday, a senior UN official, who wished to remain anonymous, told news agency Reuters that United Nations aid operations in Gaza had come to a standstill. This development followed Israel's issuance of new evacuation orders on Sunday for Deir Al-Balah, located in the central Gaza Strip and home to the UN operations center.

The evacuation order coincided with the UN's preparations to launch a vaccination campaign on Saturday, aiming to immunize approximately 640,000 children in Gaza. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that a 10-month-old baby had been paralyzed by the type 2 poliovirus, marking the first such case in the territory in 25 years.

"We're unable to deliver today with the conditions that we're in," said the senior U.N. official. "As of this morning, we're not operating in Gaza." The United Nations had previously relocated its main operations center for the Gaza Strip and most UN personnel to Deir Al-Balah, following Israel's evacuation order for Rafah in southern Gaza several months ago.

The official expressed concern over the situation, stating, "Where do we move now?" They added that UN staff had to be relocated so quickly that equipment was left behind. The Israeli military's humanitarian unit (COGAT) did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Despite the challenges, the senior UN official mentioned that UN staff on the ground had been instructed to find a way to continue operating, emphasizing that UN operations had not been formally suspended.

The Pentagon stated on Monday that the United States believes there is still a possibility of a new attack on Israel by Iran or its proxies, following a rocket and drone assault by Lebanon's Hezbollah over the weekend. Iran and its regional allies have issued threats to attack Israel in response to high-profile killings in Tehran and Beirut in late July, with Hezbollah claiming its recent strikes on Israel were a response to one of those assassinations.

"We continue to assess that there is a threat of attack, and we... remain well-postured to be able to support Israel's defense as well as to protect our forces should they be attacked," said Pentagon spokesman Major General Pat Ryder to journalists.

The Israeli military reported launching air strikes on Hezbollah targets that posed an imminent threat on Sunday, with approximately 100 fighter jets attacking more than 270 targets, primarily short-range rockets aimed at northern Israel. Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, stated that the Israeli strikes occurred half an hour before his group launched over 300 Katyusha rockets at 11 Israeli military sites, followed by drones targeting deeper inside the country, in response to the killing of senior commander Fuad Shukr in July.

Ryder clarified that while the US was not involved in the preemptive strikes or in shooting down the projectiles, it did "provide some intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance support -- ISR -- in terms of tracking incoming Lebanese Hezbollah attacks." He also mentioned that US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin "has ordered the presence of two carrier strike groups to remain in the region" as part of support for Israel.