"Escalating Tensions: Israeli Strikes and Hezbollah Clashes Raise Specter of Wider Middle East Conflict"

Israeli military strikes targeted Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, killing at least nine members, in response to the killing of Hamas leader Saleh al-Arouri in Beirut, an act Israel has not claimed. The escalation follows months of cross-border fighting since the Gaza war began in October, raising fears of a wider regional conflict. The United Nations and international leaders are calling for restraint to prevent further escalation.