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Israel-Gaza-Lebanon live updates: IDF launches fresh strikes into south Lebanon

Renewed cross-border fire comes despite last week's ceasefire.

Last Updated: December 4, 2024, 3:33 AM EST

The ceasefire in Lebanon is holding despite ongoing Israeli airstrikes on Hezbollah targets, which Israeli officials say are responses to ceasefire violations by the Iranian-backed militant group.

The Israel Defense Forces continues its intense airstrike and ground campaigns in Gaza, particularly in the north of the devastated Palestinian territory.

Tensions also remain high between Israel and Iran after tit-for-tat long-range strikes in recent months and threats of further military action from both sides.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing.
Dec 03, 2024, 6:06 AM EST

Airstrike targets car near Damascus airport

Syria's SANA news agency reported an Israeli airstrike targeting a car on a main road close to Damascus airport on Tuesday.

It was not immediately clear whether there were any casualties from the strike, or who the target was.

The Israel Defense Forces has not yet commented on the report.

-ABC News' Nasser Atta, Jordana Miller and Joe Simonetti

Dec 03, 2024, 5:23 AM EST

IDF claims killing of Oct. 7 militants

The Israel Defense Forces said Tuesday that it killed seven militants it accused of participating in Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, infiltration attack into southern Israel.

An Israeli soldier is pictured overlooking Gaza City from the Israel-Gaza border on Dec. 1, 2024.
Tsafrir Abayov/AP

The IDF said in a statement that troops of the 99th Division's 990th Brigade killed the fighters during operations in central Gaza over the past two weeks.

-ABC News' Jordana Miller

Dec 03, 2024, 4:41 AM EST

Trump's Israel ambassador pick demands 'severe' response to hostage death

Mike Huckabee, President-elect Donald Trump's pick to be the next American ambassador to Israel, said the U.S. must "exact severe consequences" after the Israel Defense Forces announced the death of missing American-Israeli soldier Omer Neutra.

Neutra, 21, was killed during Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack into southern Israel and his body was taken back into Gaza, the IDF said Monday. He was previously thought to have been abducted alive.

Huckabee wrote on X, "There must be serious consequences for holding any hostage but America needs to exact severe consequences for kidnapping and murdering AMERICAN hostages."

People attend a protest march in support of the hostages kidnapped during Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack, in Jerusalem on Nov. 27, 2024.
Ammar Awad/Reuters

Trump said on Truth Social on Monday that there would be "ALL HELL TO PAY in the Middle East" if remaining hostages are not released from Gaza by the time he takes office on Jan. 20.

There are believed to be three surviving Americans still being held hostage in Gaza.

-ABC News' Jordana Miller

Dec 03, 2024, 2:47 AM EST

9 killed in Israeli strikes in Lebanon, health ministry says

Lebanon's Health Ministry said that Israeli airstrikes in the south of the country killed nine people on Monday, as last week's fragile ceasefire continues despite renewed cross-border fire.

This picture taken from northern Israel along the border with southern Lebanon shows smoke billowing above the Lebanese village of Khiam during an Israeli bombardment, on Dec. 2, 2024.
Jalaa Marey/AFP via Getty Images

The ministry said in posts to X that an Israeli attack on the town of Haris killed five people and injured two. A strike on the town of Talousa killed four and injured one, the ministry said.

The Israel Defense Forces said Monday it was striking targets in southern Lebanon and accused Hezbollah of "severe violation of the ceasefire."

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