It’s past midnight in the Middle East. Here’s the latest in Israel, Gaza and Lebanon
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported hitting over 3,200 Hezbollah targets since ground operations began in southern Lebanon on October 1, with around 300 strikes in the past 24 hours.
According to the Lebanese health ministry, at least four people, including a child, were killed in an Israeli airstrike near Rafik Hariri University Hospital, the largest public hospital in Beirut. CNN has reached out to the IDF for a statement. Footage from Agence France-Presse showed significant smoke rising from the Beirut skyline on Monday night.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed concern over Israeli attacks on hospitals in northern Gaza, emphasizing that “patients and medical staff must be protected. Hospitals must not be targeted. Access to essential medical care and supplies must be prioritized to prevent further loss of life.”
Key Updates:
In Lebanon: Israel labeled the Hezbollah-affiliated financial institution Al-Qard Al-Hassan as a “terrorist organization” and struck several of its branches. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz stated that Israel targeted over 15 buildings in Beirut linked to Hezbollah’s finances and will continue to strike until the group is weakened. Al-Qard Al-Hassan, a non-profit providing interest-free loans to support the Shia community, is associated with Hezbollah, according to the Hezbollah-affiliated channel Al-Manar.
In Gaza:On Monday, large groups of displaced Palestinians were evacuated from the Jabalya refugee camp, where thousands had been trapped, and over 400 casualties have been reported in the ongoing Israeli military campaign. The IDF claimed it facilitated civilian evacuations through organized routes. However, the UN’s main agency in Gaza, UNRWA, reported that Israel had forcefully evacuated seven of its schools in Jabalya that were sheltering displaced individuals. CNN has also reached out to the IDF for a response.
In the US: Secretary of State Antony Blinken embarked on a critical trip to Israel and the Middle East to advance stalled negotiations for hostage recovery and to address the conflict in Gaza following Yahya Sinwar’s death. The White House acknowledged the challenging prospects for a diplomatic resolution in Gaza or Lebanon, stating that ceasefire negotiations are unlikely to resume soon.
US Intelligence Leak: President Joe Biden expressed deep concern over the leak of sensitive US intelligence regarding Israel’s plans to attack Iran, indicating that the administration will actively monitor the investigation. The leaked documents, dated October 15 and 16, began circulating online after being posted on Telegram, labeled as top secret.
