Israel-Gaza-Lebanon updates: Netanyahu claims UN peacekeepers acting as 'human shields' for Hezbollah
U.N. peacekeepers claim IDF tanks breached their base in southern Lebanon.
The Israel Defense Forces continued intense air and ground campaigns against Hezbollah in Lebanon and against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
The uptick in offensive operations came days after Israel marked the anniversary of Hamas' Oct. 7 assault and as Israeli leaders planned their response to last week's Iranian ballistic missile attack.
Key Headlines
- 51 killed, 174 injured in Lebanon on Saturday: Lebanese Ministry of Health
- Gallant describes southern Lebanon villages as 'military targets'
- Pentagon will deploy THAAD air defense system to Israel
- UN claims IDF tanks forcefully breached its peacekeeping base in southern Lebanon
- Netanyahu claims UN peacekeepers acting as 'human shields' for Hezbollah
36 people killed in Lebanon Monday: Lebanese Ministry of Health
The Lebanese Ministry of Health provided an update on the death toll from the attacks by Israeli forces.
Thirty-six people were killed and 150 were wounded Monday, according to the agency.
Earlier in the day, the Israel Defense Forces claimed that it killed at least 50 Hezbollah members, including six senior commanders, in "significant airstrikes" on Monday.
Since the start of the conflict with Israel, 2,119 people have been killed and 1,019 have been wounded, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health.
-ABC News' William Gretsky
Israeli defense minister postpones Washington trip
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has postponed Wednesday's planned Pentagon meeting, the Pentagon confirmed.
Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh said at a briefing on Tuesday that the Israeli Ministry of Defense had "just informed" them that Gallant will be postponing his trip to Washington, D.C.
When asked why Gallant was postponing the trip, she said, "You'd have to speak to the Israelis on that one. I was just told that he postponed his trip."
Gallant was to discuss "ongoing Middle East security developments" during the meeting, the Pentagon had said.
-ABC News' Luis Martinez
6 Hezbollah senior commanders among dozens killed in strikes, IDF says
The Israel Defense Forces claims to have killed at least 50 Hezbollah members, including six senior commanders, in "significant airstrikes" on Monday.
The IDF said it conducted a series of strikes on underground Hezbollah command centers in southern Lebanon.
Hezbollah has not commented on the IDF's strikes.
Israel claims it has killed Nasrallah's replacement
Israeli officials claimed Tuesday that their forces have killed the replacement for Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
"We damaged Hezbollah's capabilities. We have eliminated thousands of terrorists, including Nasrallah himself, Nasrallah's successor, and the successor of Nasrallah's successor," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video address on Tuesday. "Today, Hezbollah is weaker than it has been in many years."
Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant also said during a situation assessment on Tuesday that Nasrallah's replacement was "probably also eliminated."
"Hezbollah is an organization without a head," Gallant said. "There is no one to make decisions, no one to act."
Hashem Safieddine, a top Hezbollah official, was widely believed to succeed Nasrallah after the leader was killed in an Israeli airstrike last month.
Hezbollah has not commented yet on Israel's claims. Deputy Secretary-General Naim Kassem said earlier Tuesday that Hezbollah's "resources and capabilities remain in good shape."
"Our resistance on the front is cohesive and the administration is cohesive," he said in a video address delivered from an unknown location.