Hezbollah Vows Retaliation Amid Escalating Tensions with Israel

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has declared the need for retaliation against Israel following the Beirut airstrike that killed Hamas official Saleh al-Arouri. Despite no official claim of responsibility for the attack, Nasrallah emphasized the importance of responding to prevent further Israeli military operations. The ongoing conflict has resulted in significant casualties, with over 22,400 people killed in Gaza, mostly women and children. The UN has described the situation in Gaza as "death and despair," and international efforts are underway to de-escalate tensions, including U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's Middle East visit. Amidst the conflict, unauthorized Israeli settlements in the West Bank have increased, and a Department of Education policy adviser has resigned over the U.S. handling of the war. The health and living conditions in Gaza continue to deteriorate, with UNICEF reporting rising malnutrition and diseases among children.