TYRE. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday called for an immediate halt to fighting between Israel and militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah. Still, heavy Israeli airstrikes on the historic Lebanese port city of Tyre showed that peace remains elusive. Israel began bombing Tyre, a UNESCO-listed town, just three hours after ordering residents to flee the central areas online. Thick clouds of smoke were seen rising above residential buildings in the ancient village.
Tens of thousands of people had already fled Tyre in recent weeks as Israel ramped up its military campaign to eliminate Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza. Both groups, close allies of Iran, have been targeted by Israeli forces in a growing regional conflict. Tyre, usually a bustling port with fishermen, tourists, and U.N. peacekeepers, now sits largely deserted. For the first time, Israel’s evacuation orders encompassed large parts of the city, even areas near its ancient castle.
Lebanese citizens fear their country may suffer a fate similar to Gaza, where Israeli airstrikes have killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and leveled much of the enclave. In Gaza, the death toll continued to rise on Wednesday, with health authorities reporting at least 20 people killed in new Israeli strikes, mostly in the northern part of the territory. This comes as Israel intensifies its attacks following the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar last week.
Blinken, who has made several trips to the Middle East since the conflict erupted, is visiting the region again for the first time since Sinwar’s death. Washington is hoping that Sinwar’s killing could provide a breakthrough for peace. Blinken’s trip is also seen as a crucial diplomatic effort before the upcoming U.S. presidential election on November 5, which could shift American policy in the Middle East.
The U.S. is working to prevent a broader conflict, particularly in light of an Iranian missile attack on October 1 in solidarity with Hezbollah and Hamas. Blinken emphasized that Israel’s response to these provocations should avoid further escalation. After meeting Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Blinken traveled to Saudi Arabia to meet Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan. He is expected to meet other Arab leaders in London after a stop in Jordan was postponed.
Israel’s military, meanwhile, claimed significant gains in its fight against Hezbollah, announcing the killing of three commanders and around 70 fighters in the past 48 hours. This followed the death of Hashem Safieddine, a top Hezbollah leader. Blinken stressed that it was time for Israel to turn its military victories into lasting peace. “The focus needs to be on getting the hostages home, ending this war, and having a clear plan for what follows,” Blinken said.
Since Hamas-led fighters launched a deadly assault on Israeli towns on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking over 250 hostages, Israel has waged a relentless campaign against both Hamas and Hezbollah. In Gaza, nearly 43,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes aimed at destroying Hamas infrastructure. The conflict has now spread to Lebanon, where Israeli forces have launched ground offensives against Hezbollah, displacing over 1.2 million people.
As Blinken continues his diplomatic efforts, the situation on the ground in both Gaza and Lebanon remains dire, with no signs of a ceasefire in sight. Tyre, once a vibrant city, now stands as a symbol of the widening regional conflict.
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
