https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20240105-live-blinken-leaves-on-a-middle-east-tour-amid-fears-of-a-broader-conflict![Municipal workers clean the street where a building was hit by a drone strike that killed Hamas deputy leader Saleh al-Arouri in the southern suburb of Beirut on January 3, 2024.]()
Municipal workers clean the street where a building was hit by a drone strike that killed Hamas deputy leader Saleh al-Arouri in the southern suburb of Beirut on January 3, 2024. AFP - ANWAR AMRO
Live: Lebanon files complaint to UN Security Council over killing of Hamas leader
05/01/2024
Israel-Hamas war
Lebanon filed a complaint to the UN Security Council over the targeted killing of Hamas deputy chief Saleh al-Arouri in Beirut, calling it the "most dangerous phase" of Israeli incursions into the country. Israel, for its part, has neither confirmed nor denied that it was behind his death. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken heads to the Middle East for the fourth time since the Israel-Hamas war began on October 7 amid mounting fears the Gaza conflict will become a regional war. Follow our liveblog for all the latest developments.
Issued on: 05/01/2024 - 04:43
Summary:
- US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is on a Middle East tour for the fourth time since the Israel-Hamas war began as fears mount that the Israel-Hamas conflict will spiral into a regional war. Blinken's trip comes a day after Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant laid out preliminary plans for the post-war administration of Gaza, saying neither Israel nor Hamas will rule the Palestinian territory.
- Lebanon has filed a complaint to the UN Security Council over Israel's suspected assassination of Hamas deputy chief Saleh al-Arouri in Beirut as well as Israel's use of Lebanese airspace to bomb Syria. While Israel has not admitted to the killing, the head of Mossad this week vowed the intelligence service would track down every Hamas member behind the October 7 attack.
- In a televised address on Friday, Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah said Lebanon's security was at stake if the Shiite militia group failed to respond to Arouri's assassination in a Hezbollah stronghold of Beirut.
- Israeli officials say 1,139 people were killed in the Hamas-led October 7 attacks in southern Israel, among them 695 Israeli civilians including 36 children. At least 22,600 people have been killed and 57,910 wounded in Israel's ensuing assault on the Gaza Strip, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run enclave.