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A6 WORLD NEWS
Monday 26 august 2024
Israel and Hezbollah trade their most intense fire in months and

then pull back

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel Israeli Prime Minister Benja- multiple sites in Israel and a Gallant, and ordered both triggered by Hamas’ Oct. 7
and the Lebanese militant min Netanyahu said the mil- “large number” of drones. U.S. carrier strike groups in attack into southern Israel.
group Hezbollah traded itary eliminated thousands Some Israelis were shaken. the region to stay. The U.S. Israel and Hezbollah have
heavy fire early Sunday but of rockets that were aimed In the northern city of Acre, military has been building exchanged fire almost dai-
backed off from sparking a ly, displacing tens of thou-
widely feared all-out war, sands of people on both
as both sides signaled their sides of the border.
most intense exchange in Hezbollah, which fought Is-
months was over. rael to a stalemate in 2006,
The cross-border attacks is believed to be far more
came as high-level talks re- powerful now.
sumed in Egypt aimed at a The United States and Is-
cease-fire between Israel rael estimate it has some
and Hamas in Gaza that 150,000 rockets and is ca-
also would ease regional pable of hitting anywhere
tensions. The Hamas and inside Israel. The group has
Israeli delegations later left also developed drones ca-
Cairo, and an Israeli official pable of evading Israel’s
speaking on condition of defenses, as well as preci-
anonymity to discuss be- sion-guided munitions.
hind-the-scenes diplomacy Israel has vowed a crush-
said the talks were expect- ing response to any major
ed to continue. Hezbollah attack. It has an
Hezbollah claimed to hit an extensive multi-tiered mis-
Israeli military intelligence sile defense system, and it
site near Tel Aviv as part of is backed by a U.S.-led co-
a barrage of hundreds of alition that helped it shoot
rockets and drones, and down hundreds of missiles
Israel claimed its dozens of and drones fired from Iran
strikes had been preemp- earlier this year.
tive to avert a larger attack. Hezbollah is a close ally of
Neither offered evidence. Iran, which has also threat-
Hezbollah leader Hassan ened to retaliate against
Nasrallah said the attack, a Israel for the killing of senior
response to Israel’s killing of Hamas leader Ismail Hani-
a top militant commander yeh in Tehran last month.
in Beirut last month, had Israel has not said whether
been delayed to give it was involved.
the Gaza cease-fire talks A woman stands on the doorway of a damaged house following an attack from Lebanon in Arce, Iranian state media played
a chance, and so fellow North Israel, Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024. up the Hezbollah attack,
Iran-backed groups could (AP Photo/ Ariel Schalit) calling it a success, but
discuss with Iran whether there was no immediate
to attack Israel all at once. comment from Iranian of-
Israeli and U.S. military de- at northern Israel and shot retired teacher Saadia up its forces across the re- ficials.
ployment also played a down drones heading for Even Tsur, 76, said he was at gion in recent weeks. The U.S. and other me-
role. the center of the country. the synagogue and arrived The chairman of the Joint diators see a cease-fire in
“We will now reserve the “I repeat — this is not the home five minutes after his Chiefs of Staff, Gen. CQ Gaza as key to averting a
right to respond at a later end of the story,” he add- bedroom was damaged. “I Brown, arrived in Israel wider Mideast war. Hezbol-
time” if the results of Sun- ed. went up and saw the size of late Sunday for meetings lah has said it will halt its
day’s attack aren’t suffi- Flights diverted as air raid the miracle that happened on what the Israeli military strikes on Israel if there is a
cient, Nasrallah said, add- sirens wail to me,” he said. A window called “joint preparations cease-fire.
ing that allied Houthi rebels Air raid sirens were reported was broken and debris was in the region as part of the The talks in Cairo on Sunday
in Yemen -- and Iran itself -- throughout northern Israel, on the bed. response to threats in the aimed at bridging gaps in
had yet to respond. But he and Israel’s international Lebanon’s caretaker Econ- Middle East.” a proposal for a truce and
told the Lebanese people: airport closed and diverted omy Minister Amin Salam, All-out war apparently the release of scores of
“At this current stage, the flights for about an hour. after an emergency gov- averted for now hostages held by Hamas.
country can take a breath Israel’s military spokes- ernment meeting, said of- Danny Citrinowicz, an ex- The talks included CIA di-
and relax.” person, Rear Adm. Daniel ficials were “feeling a bit pert at Israel’s Institute for rector William Burns and
Israel and Hezbollah said Hagari, said about 100 Is- more optimistic” about a National Security Studies, David Barnea, the head of
they aimed only at military raeli planes struck 270 tar- de-escalation after both said Hezbollah might be try- Israel’s Mossad intelligence
targets. Israel said no mili- gets, 90% of them rocket sides confirmed that the ing to “balance the equa- agency.
tary target was hit by Hez- launchers aimed at north- operations had ended. tion without escalating into The Hamas delegation was
bollah but that one soldier ern Israel. He said they President Joe Biden was war.” Each side hopes their briefed by Egyptian and
with its navy was killed and were investigating the per- “closely monitoring events narrative will be sufficient Qatari mediators but did
two others were wounded centage of incoming rock- in Israel and Lebanon,” ac- for them to declare victory not directly take part in ne-
either by an interceptor for ets and drones intercepted cording to Sean Savett, a and avoid a wider confron- gotiations.
incoming fire, or by shrap- but said the “vast majority” spokesman for the National tation, he said. In the occupied West Bank,
nel from one. Two Hezbol- were thwarted. Security Council. The Pen- Hezbollah began attack- Israel’s military said it killed
lah fighters and a militant Hezbollah said its attack tagon said Defense Secre- ing Israel almost immedi- two people who allegedly
from an allied group were involved more than 320 tary Lloyd Austin spoke with ately after the start of the tried to run over soldiers in
killed, the groups said. Katyusha rockets aimed at his Israeli counterpart, Yoav war in Gaza, which was Ariel, slightly hurting one.q