The top U.S. general overseeing American forces in the Middle East made an unannounced trip to Israel on Tuesday amid escalated air strikes by Israel Air Force on the already devastating Gazan people who are facing the wreath of its neighbour country from land, sea, and air since the Hamas surprise attack.
He ensured Israel that the US military had what it needed as it fought a deepening war against the Palestinian group Hamas.
The trip by Army General Michael “Erik” Kurilla, head of U.S. Central Command, is the latest by a senior U.S. official to Israel ahead of an expected ground invasion by Israel’s military in Gaza despite international condemnation and violation the international laws.
US President Joe Biden is also about to visit the Wednesday in Israel.
The IDF said Tuesday morning that over the past 24 hours, it had launched strikes against more than 200 terror targets belonging to Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
The US military is increasing its firepower in the region, aiming to prevent Iran and other Iran-backed groups from getting involved in the conflict as international fears of a wider, regional war grow.
Reuters reported Pentagon is also rushing weaponry, including air defenses and munitions, to Israel. “I’m here to ensure Israel has what it needs to defend itself, particularly focused on avoiding other parties expanding the conflict,” Kurilla told Reuters, which is traveling with him, in brief remarks before landing.
A U.S. official told Reuters Kurilla was scheduled to hold high-level meetings with Israel’s military leadership, ensuring a clear understanding of the close U.S. ally’s defense requirements.
Kurilla was also expected to outline U.S. military support aimed at avoiding an expansion of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Israel thwarts infiltration bid from Lebanon, killing four: army
Israeli troops killed four militants attempting to infiltrate from Lebanon, the army said Tuesday, as tensions run high along the border between the two countries.
“A short while ago, IDF (Israeli army) observation troops spotted a terrorist squad attempting to infiltrate the security fence with Lebanon and plant an explosive device,” the army said in a statement. “Four terrorists were killed.”
Earlier the army said it had carried out strikes overnight on Hezbollah “terrorist” targets inside Lebanon.
Iran Warns Expansion of Israel-Hamas War Becoming ‘Inevitable’
Iran said Monday that an expansion of the war between Israel and Hamas was increasingly becoming unavoidable, a signal the main backer of the Palestinian militant group was preparing for a wider conflict.
“The time for political solutions is running out and the possible expansion of the war on other fronts is approaching the inevitable stage,” Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian wrote on X.
Security Council rejects Russian resolution on Gaza
The Russian-led draft resolution received five votes in favour (China, Gabon, Mozambique, Russia, and the United Arab Emirates) and four against (France, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States), with six abstentions (Albania, Brazil, Ecuador, Ghana, Malta, and Switzerland).
For the Council to adopt a resolution, the proposal must receive at least nine votes in favour, with none of its five permanent members opposing or casting a veto.
The draft text had called for a humanitarian ceasefire, release of all hostages, aid access, and safe evacuation of civilians. Vassily Nebenzia, Permanent Representative of Russia to the UN expressed regret over the Security Council’s failure to adopt the resolution, blaming the “selfish intention of the western bloc.”
