"Israel and Hezbollah Exchange Fire Amid Regional Tensions and Calls for US Deterrence"

Israel and Hezbollah engaged in one of the most intense days of cross-border fighting following the killing of a top Hamas leader, which Hezbollah vowed to retaliate for. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is on an urgent diplomatic tour to prevent regional escalation, with the EU's foreign policy chief also calling for the avoidance of conflict. Hezbollah claimed to have launched rockets at Israeli targets, while Israel conducted airstrikes in Lebanon. The situation raises concerns of a broader regional conflict, with incidents also occurring in the Red Sea and other parts of the Middle East. Blinken's tour includes meetings with leaders in Turkey, Greece, Jordan, Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel, the West Bank, and Egypt to discuss the situation and seek support for post-war Gaza reconstruction efforts.