The Israeli military confirmed Monday that an Israeli-American soldier believed taken hostage by Hamas during the October 2023 attack was killed that day, with his body transported to Gaza. Hamas still holds around 100 hostages, one-third presumed dead.
The Biden administration is pushing for a ceasefire and further hostage releases after indirect negotiations have stalled for months.
Meanwhile, Lebanon accuses Israel of breaching a recent ceasefire with Hezbollah over 50 times, as Israeli drone strikes killed and injured individuals in southern Lebanon. The tenuous ceasefire, brokered by France and the U.S., remains intact despite mounting accusations from both sides. In Syria, Iran-backed militias have joined government forces to counter an insurgent offensive led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, deepening regional instability.
The situation underscores the ongoing volatility in the Middle East, with hostilities impacting civilians and drawing in international stakeholders.
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