The Times of Israel is liveblogging Tuesday’s events as they happen.
Top US general says risk of broader war ‘somewhat’ abated after Israel-Hezbollah clash
The near-term risk of a broader war in the Middle East has eased somewhat after Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah exchanged fire without further escalation but Iran still poses a significant danger as it weighs a strike on Israel, America’s top general says.
Air Force General C.Q. Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, speaks to Reuters after emerging from a three-day trip to the Middle East that saw him fly into Israel just hours after Hezbollah launched hundreds of rockets and drones at Israel, and the IDF said it struck hundreds of Hezbollah rocket launchers in Lebanon to thwart a larger attack. It was one of the biggest clashes in more than 10 months since Hezbollah began attacking northern Israel following Hamas’s October 7 onslaught, but it also ended with limited damage in Israel and without immediate threats of more retaliation from either side.
Brown notes Hezbollah’s strike was just one of two major threatened attacks against Israel that emerged in recent weeks. Iran is also threatening an attack over the killing of a Hamas leader in Tehran last month.
Asked if the immediate risk of a regional war had declined, Brown says: “Somewhat, yes.”
“You had two things you knew were going to happen. One’s already happened. Now it depends on how the second is going to play out,” Brown says while flying out of Israel.
“How Iran responds will dictate how Israel responds, which will dictate whether there is going to be a broader conflict or not.”
Brown also cautions that there is also the risk posed by Iran’s militant allies in places such as Iraq, Syria and Jordan who have attacked US troops as well as Yemen’s Houthis, who have targeted Red Sea shipping and even fired drones at Israel.
“And do these others actually go off and do things on their own because they’re not satisfied – the Houthis in particular,” Brown says, calling the Shia group the “wild card.”
Saudi Arabia denounces Ben Gvir for saying he’d support synagogue on Temple Mount
Saudi Arabia denounces far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir after he voiced support for putting a synagogue on the flashpoint Temple Mount in Jerusalem’s Old City
A statement released by the Saudi foreign ministry doesn’t name Ben Gvir, instead referring to him as “a minister in the Israeli occupation government.”
“The kingdom affirms its categorical rejection of these extremist and inflammatory statements, and its rejection of the ongoing provocations of the feelings of Muslims around the world,” the statement says. “The kingdom stresses the need to respect the historical and legal status quo at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, renewing its call to the international community to assume its responsibilities in putting an end to the humanitarian catastrophe endured by the brotherly Palestinian people and activating serious mechanisms to hold Israeli officials accountable for the ongoing violations of international laws, norms and resolutions.”
IDF officially rules out suspected kidnapping following earlier report
The military releases a statement officially ruling out earlier reports of a suspected kidnapping in the northern West Bank, following searches of the area by Israeli forces.
PA health ministry: 1 killed, 3 injured after settlers opened fire in village near Bethlehem
The Palestinian Authority health ministry says one Palestinian was killed and three others were injured after Israeli settlers opened fire in the West Bank village of Wadi Rahhal near Bethlehem.
According to Palestinian media, dozens of Israeli settlers entered the village and attacked residents.
There is no immediate comment from Israeli authorities.