Hezbollah Says Its War With Israel 'Entering a New Phase' as Middle-East Remains on Boil

Jerusalem: Leban's Hezbollah militant group said Friday it is entering a new phase in its fight against inving Israeli troops, as region continued to reckon with Israel's claim that top Hamas leer Yahya Sinwar has been killed in a battle with Israeli forces in Gaza previous day.

Hamas has still t responded to Israeli anuncement, but its ally Iran released a statement commemorating Palestinian militant leer via its mission to United Nations. Sinwar was a chief architect of attack on sourn Israel that precipitated latest escalating conflicts in Middle East.

Many, from governments of Israeli allies to exhausted residents of Gaza, expressed hope that Sinwar's death would pave way for an end to war, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a speech anuncing killing that “Our war is t yet ended.” On October 7, 2023, Hamas-led militants blew holes in Israel's security fence and stormed in, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting ar 250. Israel's offensive in Gaza has killed over 42,000 Palestinians, according to local health authorities, who do t distinguish combatants from civilians. war has destroyed large areas of Gaza and displaced about 90 per cent of its population of 2.3 million people.

Here's latest: Israeli police set to indict East Jerusalem man y say was planning to attack protest JERUSALEM — Israeli police are set to indict a Palestinian from East Jerusalem Friday, who y say planned to carry out an attack on a host protest in Tel Aviv.

In a statement Friday, police and Israel's Shin Bet security ncy said man was a supporter of Hamas and or militant groups, and planned to carry out multiple attacks against Israeli civilians and soldiers in retribution for Israel's offensive in Gaza.

man h t yet acquired a weapon or explosives to carry out any of attacks, police said, ding that he was planning to attack a protest calling for return of hosts held by Hamas in Gaza. Such protests occur weekly in Tel Aviv.

Hezbollah says its war with Israel is entering 'new phase' BEIRUT — Leban's Hezbollah militant group says it is entering a new phase in its fight against inving Israeli troops, ding that it has introduced new weapons over past days.

A statement from group's operations room early Friday said that Hezbollah's fighters have used new s of precision-guided missiles and explosive drones for first time.

statement appears to refer to a drone len with explosives that eved Israel's multilayered air-defence system and slammed into a mess hall at a military training camp deep inside Israel, killing four soldiers and wounding dozens.

group also anunced earlier this week that it fired a new of missile called Qer 2 toward suburbs of Tel Aviv.

statement also said that Hezbollah's air defense units shot down this week two Israeli Hermes 450 drones.

Hezbollah said its fighters are working according to “plans prepared in vance” to battle inving Israeli troops in several parts of south Leban.

Iran commemorates Hamas leer whom Israel says it killed UNITED NATIONS — Iran's Mission to United Nations issued a statement houring Yahya Sinwar, leer of Hamas, after Israel said Thursday he h been killed in fighting.

“When US forces dragged a dishevelled Sdam Hussein out of an underground hole, he begged m t to kill him despite being armed. Those who regarded Sdam as ir model of resistance eventually collapsed," statement said.

"However when Muslims look up to martyr Sinwar standing on battlefield — in combat attire and out in open, t in a hideout, facing enemy — spirit of resistance will be strengned. He will become a model for youth and children who will carry forth his path for liberation of Palestine. As long as occupation and aggression exist, resistance will endure, for martyr remains alive and a source of inspiration,” it ded.

Iran and Iraq fought a brutal war in 1980s that began when Hussein launched an invasion of Iran. It killed more than 1 million people on both sides.