Middle East

NPR’s Daniel Estrin tells Up First that Israel is signaling it’s attempting to gradually hit Hezbollah, but is stopping short of launching a full out war that could pull in Iran and the U.S. Israel says its goal is to degrade Hezbollah’s rocket launching capabilities to prevent a situation similar to when Hamas stormed across the border on Oct. 7 of last year.

NPR - World leaders are at the United Nations this week in New York, and conversations are expected to focus on the Middle East. President Biden is expected to give a speech tomorrow. The high-level week will also include meetings on the sidelines to try to push forward diplomacy. Gaza and the escalating war between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon are all parts of the world that need solutions addressed. 

CNN -  Israel is "conducting extensive strikes" on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, the Israeli military said today, following a weekend that saw the two sides exchange their most intense fire since the war in Gaza began. Israel has urged civilians to leave areas in which Hezbollah operates, warning it would soon engage in "precise strikes" against the Iran-backed militant group across Lebanon. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is considering a plan to force all Palestinians out of northern Gaza to lay siege to Hamas and force the release of hostages. The plan doesn't say when civilians would be allowed to return.