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.
3 crew members missing from ship attacked off Yemen: Report
Three crew members of the U.S.-owned bulk carrier True Confidence are missing following an attack off of Aden in Yemen that resulted in the vessel's damage, Reuters reported, citing a shipping source.
Four other crew members reportedly sustained serious burns following the attack.
IDF attacks Hezbollah posts following missile barrage
Israeli warplanes attacked three different paramilitary sites belonging to Iranian-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, the IDF said Wednesday.
מטוסי קרב תקפו לפני זמן קצר מבנה צבאי של ארגון הטרור חיזבאללה במרחב יארון ומבנה צבאי נוסף של הארגון במרחב כפרא.
— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) March 6, 2024
בנוסף, כוחות צה״ל תקפו להסרת איום במרחב כפר חמם>> pic.twitter.com/G0JZhm4sod
The strikes came after Hezbollah launched about 60 missiles toward northern Israel on Tuesday.
Hamas wants top murder convict released in 'final' truce offer: Report
Hamas wants terror convict Marwan Barghouti and several other top terror detainees to be freed from Israeli prisons as part of its "final offer" for a ceasefire-hostage deal, local media reported Wednesday, citing a report from Jordanian outlet Al-Rai al-Youm. Barghouti has been convicted of multiple murders.
The following are the names of other Palestinian militants that Hamas reportedly wants to be released:
- Abbas al-Sayed – senior Hamas member responsible for bombing plans
- Ibrahim Hamed – ex-commander of Hamas' paramilitary wing in the West Bank
- Abdullah Barghouti – senior Hamas bombmaker
- Ahmad Sa'adat – head of Marxist-Lennist Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP)
Hamas has been pushing Israel to agree to a truce deal that includes the release of some major figures in the Palestinian militant circle, but Israel has been adamant.
Israeli delegation to deliver response to ceasefire proposal in Cairo: Report
An Israeli delegation will arrive in Cairo Wednesday to deliver the Israeli government's response to Hamas' proposal for a ceasefire-hostage deal, the Al-Araby Al-Jadeed outlet reported, citing an Egyptian source.
An Israeli delegation is scheduled to arrive in Cairo today to deliver Jerusalem's response to Hamas' proposal for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal, Saudi 'Al-Araby Al-Jadeed' reports citing an Egyptian source.
— Ariel Oseran (@ariel_oseran) March 6, 2024
The report comes after Israel did not send a delegation to Egypt earlier this week, citing Hamas' refusal to provide a list that specifies which hostages are still alive.
Israel tells public to take caution when traveling during Ramadan
The Israeli government on Wednesday said the Israeli public should "be responsible while traveling abroad" during the month of Ramadan as "Islamic terrorist organizations see Ramadan as an opportunity to perpetrate attacks and violent acts."
"The National Security Council (NSC) estimates that the terrorist organizations are expected to utilize the Swords of Iron War and tension surrounding the Temple Mount and the Al-Aqsa Mosque to spur militants and supporters to attack Israeli and Western targets," the government said as per a statement released by Netanyahu's office.
Drone strike targets car carrying Iraqi, Iranian leaders in Syria: Report
A drone strike Wednesday afternoon Damascus time near the town of Al-Quriyah in eastern Syria targeted "a car carrying foreign leaders (Iraqis and Iranians)," Syrian expert and CEO of local Deir Ezzor 24 News, Omar Abu Layla said on X (formerly Twitter), citing an unidentified source.
Al-Quriyah is a known stronghold of Hezbollah and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Layla noted.
🚨🚨🚨
— Omar Abu Layla (@OALD24) March 6, 2024
BREAKING:
Just received from privet source about an airstrike just minutes ago by an unidentified drone targeting a car carrying foreign leaders (Iraqis and Iranians) near the town of Al-Quriyah in the eastern countryside of #DeirEzzor eastern Syria .
Al-Quriyah is… pic.twitter.com/LUVkNDJ6hc
UN WFP accuses Israel of turning back food-carrying truck convoy
The UN'S WFP on Tuesday said Israel "turned away" a 14-truck convoy that carried food for civilians in Gaza. Due to the incident, the WFP airdropped food packages for 20,000 people in the enclave in cooperation with the Jordanian Air Forces.
🆕 #Gaza: After a 14-truck convoy was turned away today, WFP food for 20,000 people was dropped into northern Gaza with support of the Jordanian Air Forces.
— World Food Programme (@WFP) March 5, 2024
WFP is determined to do whatever it takes to reach people in need. ⚠️ But to avert famine, we must have access by road.
Israel has yet to deny or confirm the report.
US revises UN draft resolution to include release of 'all' hostages
Washington on Tuesday revised a United Nations Security Council resolution that calls for an "immediate ceasefire" in Gaza. The text now includes a call for "an agreement for an immediate ceasefire of roughly six weeks in Gaza together with the release of all hostages as soon as the parties agree," CNN reported, citing a copy of the draft text seen and by the outlet and confirmed by a UN diplomatic source.
The U.S. has been pushing for UN resolutions on the Gaza crisis to include wording that emphasize the need to release the remaining hostages in Hamas captivity.
Israeli warplane downs aerial target from Syrian territory
The Israeli army on Tuesday shot down an unmanned aircraft "which crossed from Syria into Israel," the IDF said as per a Google translation. Footage of the operation shows how an Israeli F-15 fighter jet intercepted the target.
בשעות הבוקר המוקדמות, זוהה על ידי מערכות הבקרה והגילוי של חיל האוויר כלי טיס בלתי מאויש, אשר חצה מסוריה משטח לישראל.
— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) March 5, 2024
התרעה הופעלה ביישומון פיקוד העורף בשטחים פתוחים בצפון הארץ.
לוחמי צוות האוויר במטוס קרב מסוג F-15 יירטו אותו בהצלחה pic.twitter.com/EV2EjYCfOS
The war in Gaza has drawn attacks toward Israel by Iranian-backed militias across the Middle East.
UK losing patience with Israel over Gaza humanitarian crisis: Report
Cameron is expected to tell Gantz that Britain is losing patience over Israel's handling of humanitarian aid deliveries for Palestinian civilians in Gaza, The Guardian reported Wednesday.
The British foreign secretary reportedly issued the warning during a late Tuesday night debate over the Gaza situation. He said Israel, as the occupying power, was responsible, under international humanitarian law, to facilitate aid for civilians in the enclave.
Gantz's trip to London Wednesday follows his two-day visit in Washington, where he was given a red carpet treatment by the Biden administration, seemingly highlighting the apparent frustration that the U.S. has been experiencing over the Netanyahu government's unwavering stance in the fighting in Gaza.
US foils attempted attack on American destroyer in Red Sea
U.S. forces on Tuesday afternoon shot down a missile and three one-way drones "launched from Iranian-backed Houthi controlled areas of Yemen toward USS Carney (DDG 64) in the Red Sea," CENTCOM said Wednesday.
A similar operation was carried out later at night, the U.S. army added as the Houthi assets were deemed to present an "imminent threat to merchant vessels and to the U.S. Navy ships in the region."
Red Sea Update
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 5, 2024
On March 5, between the hours of 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. (Sanaa time), U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces shot down one anti-ship ballistic missile and three one-way attack unmanned aerial systems launched from Iranian-backed Houthi controlled areas of Yemen toward… pic.twitter.com/MtzCKu9YlA
Ship suffers damage after attack off Aden: UKMTO
A merchant vessel was attacked Wednesday morning southwest of Aden in Yemen, UKMTO said. The ship was struck and "has suffered damage." Operation Prosperity Guardian forces have responded to the scene, as per UKMTO.
UKMTO WARNING INCIDENT 046
— United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) (@UK_MTO) March 6, 2024
UPDATE 002
ATTACK
Warnings - 2024 (https://t.co/5An1YH0JyE)#MaritimeSecurity #MarSec pic.twitter.com/kh23hdCliM
British security firm Ambrey said the vessel was a Barbados-flagged, U.S.-owned cargo ship. An explosion in the vicinity of the ship was reportedly heard during the attack after the vessel was "hailed by an entity declaring itself to be the 'Yemeni Navy' and ordered to alter course," Reuters reported, citing Ambrey.
The latest attack in the Red Sea comes amid continuing attacks by Yemeni rebel Houthis who, like Hezbollah, have pledged solidarity with Gaza.
Hezbollah fires 60 missiles toward Galilee: Arab media
The Iranian-backed terror group late on Tuesday fired "about 60 missiles from Lebanon toward Kiryat Shmona in Galilee, Sky News in Arabic reported.
Footage from the scene shows a massive salvo of missiles being fired as vehicles on a road come to a halt amid the barrage.
مشاهد جديدة توثق إطلاق نحو 60 صاروخا من #لبنان باتجاه #كريات_شمونة في الجليل#سوشال_سكاي pic.twitter.com/Fj4Bva2E6c
— سكاي نيوز عربية (@skynewsarabia) March 5, 2024
US floats short Gaza ceasefire without hostage releases: Report
The U.S. and Arab negotiators have suggested a short pause in the fighting in Gaza that does not include the release of hostages still in Hamas captivity, local media reported Wednesday, citing a Wall Street Journal report.
The idea is for a possible short pause in hostilities to be implemented while details of the larger ceasefire-hostage exchange deal gets ironed out amid gaps in Israeli and Hamas demands, as per the report.
Such a a significant change in Washington's stance, if confirmed, marks a transition in the U.S. strategy over the Gaza war amid increasing pressure from the international community to pressure Israel into reaching a truce agreement.
