The Times of Israel is liveblogging Monday’s events as they unfold.
Jewish candidate Sheinbaum appears to clinch Mexican presidency
Mexico’s Morena party says its candidate Claudia Sheinbaum has won the nation’s presidency.
If the result are confirmed, Sheinbaum, a Jewish scientist, will become Mexico’s first female president.
At least two exit polls have predicted that Sheinbaum will beat out challenger Xóchitl Gálvez, in a vote largely seen as a referendum on Mexico’s outgoing president and Sheinbaum’s mentor Andrés Manuel López Obrador. Polls ahead of the vote had shown her with a sizeable lead.
Blinken presses Gallant, Gantz on US hostage deal proposal, says onus on Hamas
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held phone calls Sunday with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and war cabinet minister Benny Gantz to discuss the latest Israeli hostage deal proposal unveiled by President Joe Biden late last week, the State Department says.
Blinken “commended Israel’s readiness to conclude a deal and affirmed that the onus is on Hamas to accept,” according to the US readout.
The top US diplomat also “underscored that the proposal would advance Israel’s long-term security interests, including by enabling the possibility of further integration in the region.”
These were the first publicized calls between senior US and Israeli officials since Biden’s Friday speech in which he revealed details of the hostage deal proposal authorized by the war cabinet led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Gallant and Gantz.
There is no immediate Israeli comment on the calls.
War monitor claims 12 killed in Aleppo airstrike
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor claims that 12 people were killed in an alleged Israeli airstrike north of Aleppo overnight.
The UK-based opposition watchdog, which has been criticized for inflating regime losses in the past, claims that all 12 were members of pro-Iranian groups.
The claim cannot be verified. Official Syrian sources have only put the death toll at “several.”
Syrian media reports casualties in alleged Israeli strike near Aleppo
Syria’s Sham FM news outlet, thought to be closely linked to the ruling Assad regime, reports that “there are a number of martyrs and some material losses” following an airstrike near Aleppo, citing a military source.
The source blames Israel for the assault.
According to other reports, airstrikes hit a copper smelting plant in Hayyan, a small town north of Aleppo.
Syrian State Media is claiming that the Explosion and resulting Fire at a Copper Smelting Plant near the City of Aleppo in Northwestern Syria earlier tonight, was caused by several Missile Strikes from the Israeli Air Force; there were No Casualties at the Plant besides a Guard… pic.twitter.com/XH6lDEieMW
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) June 2, 2024
Airstrikes said to hit factory in Aleppo
Initial reports indicate that a factory in Syria’s second city of Aleppo is burning following an airstrike, which some have quickly attributed to Israel.
Video from the northern Syria city posted online by the Syria Observatory for Human Rights appears to show at least three explosions in quick succession.
"#SOHR camera" captures consecutive violent explosions in Aleppo Cityhttps://t.co/fNmR7EYC16 pic.twitter.com/476vmDhpav
— المرصد السوري لحقوق الإنسان (@syriahr) June 2, 2024
Another widely shared video shows a fire burning, though is too dark for details to be seen.
Israeli air strikes on Aleppo countryside (Hayyan town) northern Syria.
This area has a huge presence for the Iranian militias and Hezbollah. pic.twitter.com/p57CjH3mN1— Asaad Sam Hanna (@AsaadHannaa) June 2, 2024
There is no official comment from Syrian officials.