Middle East Conflict: Blinken In Egypt To Push Truce Deal; Argentine President Arrives In Israel

Netanyahu thanks Milei for keeping his promise

The Israeli president on Tuesday welcomed the Argentine president's arrival in Israel, thanking the latter for keeping his "promise" of moving the Argentine embassy to Jerusalem from Herzliya.

The two leaders will meet Wednesday to discuss "the continued tightening of bilateral relations," as per a statement from Netanyahu's office.

Blinken to meet Egyptian president for truce talks

The U.S. Secretary of State will meet Egypt's Abdel Fatah al-Sisi in a bid to advance talks for a new ceasefire deal. He arrived in Cairo Tuesday following his Saudi Arabia trip.

His meeting with Egyptian mediators come at a critical time as the loved ones of remaining hostages in Gaza press for more action to get the abductees freed.

Argentina's pro-Israel president arrives in Israel

The recently-elected president of Argentina, Javier Milei, who has previously expressed solidarity with Israel, has arrived in Israel for a state visit. Milei previously vowed to move the Argentine embassy from Herzliya to Jerusalem, Israel's capital.

Protesters block humanitarian aid trucks at Kerem Shalom crossing: Local media

Protesters on Tuesday broke through law enforcement blockades at the Kerem Shalom border crossing, attempting to stop trucks carrying humanitarian aid from entering the Gaza Strip, local media reported.

The Kerem Shalom demonstrations stopped for a few days before Tuesday's chaos. Protesters calling for the immediate release of remaining hostages in Gaza have also attempted to block aid entry at the Nitzana crossing and an Israeli port last week.

Merchant ship attacked off Aden: UKMTO

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said Tuesday that it received a report of an "attack" off of Aden, Yemen. An explosion was reported "in close proximity to a merchant vessel" in the area. The ship and its crew are safe.

PIJ operative who participated in Hamas' Oct. 7 massacre eliminated: IDF

An Israeli strike killed an operative with the Hamas ally the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) who participated in the massacre at Kibbutz Nir Oz on Oct. 7, the IDF said Tuesday.

The assassination was carried out in Deir al-Balah, a city in the central Gaza Strip, the Israeli army said in its latest operational update in the enclave.

Top Israeli minister apologizes for his son's tweet about Biden

Israel's national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on Tuesday took to X to apologize for the "grave mistake" his son, Shubal (Shuvael), made on the social media platform.

Shubal on Monday in a since-deleted post, implied that the U.S. president had Alzheimer's. Shubal's post that appeared to raise awareness about the condition was accompanied by a photo of Biden.

"The United States of America is our great friend and President Biden is a friend of Israel. Even if I have a disagreement with his conduct, there is no room, God forbid, for a disparaging style," Ben-Gvir wrote on X, as per a Google translation.

"Respect for humanity is A and B; this is how I educate my children. I apologize for my son's words," he added.

Ben-Gvir is known for his inflammatory remarks regarding Palestinians in the past. He has also rejected the Biden administration's calls for a two-state solution to the never-ending Israel-Palestine conflict.

Hezbollah claims attack on 4 IDF assets

Hezbollah on Tuesday claimed that it attacked four Israeli army assets, including a site in the disputed Shebaa Farms that the Lebanese terror group said was hit with missiles. The IDF's "Yiftah Barracks" was also "directly hit" with missiles, Hezbollah's leader said on X.

The Iranian-backed group has repeatedly said its attacks toward Israel were "in support" Palestinians in Gaza "and in support of their brave and honorable resistance."

Hamas leadership in Gaza 'on the run': Israeli defense minister

Gallant late on Monday said in a press briefing that Hamas' leadership in Gaza, including the terror group's top official in the enclave, Yahya Sinwar, are "on the run."

The Israeli defense minister said Sinwar, in particular, is currently "busy with his personal survival" and was no longer commanding Gaza forces. He also said there were issues between Hamas leaders in the Strip and those abroad, which could mean there is "panic and distress" within the Palestinian militant group's leadership.

US strikes Houthi USVs in Yemen

U.S. forces on Monday struck "in self-defense" two Houthi explosive uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs), the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said.

The USVs were identified in Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen were struck after American forces determined that they "presented an imminent threat to U.S. Navy ships and merchant vessels in the region."

US actions in Middle East prompting new regional issues: Chinese envoy

China's ambassador to the UN, Zhang Jun, said at the Security Council's Open Session on US Airstrikes in Syria and Iraq that Washington's actions in the two Middle Eastern nations were "triggering new regional turbulence," as per CNN.

He said U.S. actions were a grave violation of Iraqi and Syrian sovereignty, calling out what it says was Washington's contradictory signals regarding a regional spillover of the Israel-Hamas war.

Houthis claim attack on US, British vessels

Iran-backed Yemeni Houthi rebels on Tuesday claimed to have attacked two ships of American and British origin in the Red Sea using "suitable naval missiles."

Houthi spokesperson Yahya Sare'e said the first attack targeted what the rebel militia referred to as "the American ship 'Star Nasia.'" The second attack was aimed at "the British ship 'Morning Tide,'" Sare'e said on X. He added that the Houthis will continue to conduct military operations "against all hostile American-British targets in the Arab and Red Seas."

The Star NASIA is a Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier, while the Morning Tide is a British-flagged sailing vessel, as per data from Marine Traffic.

As reported earlier, a British vessel was attacked in the Red Sea, causing some damage to the ship's bridge windows. This comes following joint U.S.-UK strikes in Yemen targeting Houthi assets.

Activists calling for hostages' releases now on 2nd day of 136-hour fast

Activists from Israel and the U.S. on Monday kicked off a 136-hour fast near the ICRC headquarters in Geneva, in a bid to raise awareness about the plight of 136 hostages still in Hamas captivity in Gaza.

Blinken meets Saudi Crown Prince

The U.S. Secretary of State on Monday spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh, wherein the two discussed efforts to step up humanitarian aid entry into the Gaza Strip.

The two also agreed to continue engaging in diplomacy "to prevent the further spread of the conflict," Blinken wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Blinken is expected to visit Egypt, Qatar and Israel as part of the Biden administration's efforts to push for a ceasefire deal that could free the remaining hostages in Gaza.

Hezbollah announces deaths of 3 fighters

Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah on Monday announced "with great pride and honor" the deaths of three of the Lebanon-based terror group's combatants, who he said "attained martyrdom on the path to Jerusalem."

The announcement came amid continuing fire exchanges between Hezbollah and Israeli forces near the Israeli-Lebanese border.

Independent Review Group to investigate UNRWA: UN chief

UN chief Antonio Guterres late on Monday announced that UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini appointed an independent group to review "whether the Agency [UNRWA] is doing everything within its power to ensure neutrality and to respond to allegations of serious breaches when they are made."

The external review group will be led by French former foreign minister Catherine Colonna, Guterres said in a statement. She will work with three research groups: the Danish Institute for Human Rights, the Swedish Raoul Wallenberg Institute, and Norway's Chr. Michelsen Institute.

Guterres' announcement came following an exposé provided by Israel to the U.S. wherein 12 UNRWA employees were accused of directly participating in Hamas' Oct. 7 atrocities.

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British ship attacked off Houthi-held Hodeidah

A vessel transiting the Red Sea was attacked off Hodeidah in Yemen early on Tuesday, the UKMTO said. A projectile was fired at the ship's port side. The projectile passed over the deck, "causing slight damage to the bridge windows."

The attacked vessel was a British ship, as per The Guardian. The ship and its crew are safe.