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Middle East live updates: Gaza death toll rises to 46,000, officials say

70 Gazans were killed in the last 24 hours of Israel strikes, officials said.

Rebel forces in Syria are building a transitional government after toppling the regime of President Bashar Assad in a lightning-quick advance across the country.

The Israel Defense Forces continues its intense airstrike and ground campaigns in Gaza, particularly in the north of the strip around several Palestinian hospitals. A latest round of peace talks to end the 15-month-old war is set to resume in Qatar.

Meanwhile, the November 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.

Tensions 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. The IDF and the Yemeni Houthis also continue to exchange attacks.


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US bombs Houthi weapon sites in Yemen

U.S. Central Command conducted "multiple precision strikes" against two Houthi underground storage facilities in Yemen on Wednesday, the command said in a statement.

"The Houthis used these facilities to conduct attacks against U.S. Navy warships and merchant vessels in the southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden," CENTCOM said. "There were no injuries or damage to U.S. personnel or equipment."

U.S. and British forces -- backed by a range of allies -- have been bombing the Iran-aligned Houthi organization in Yemen since January.

The strikes are a response to Houthi attacks on commercial and military shipping in the Red Sea and elsewhere, launched in protest of Israel's war in Gaza. The Houthis have also launched direct attacks on Israel and vowed to continue to do so while the war in Gaza continues.

Israel has launched several waves of strikes on Yemen in response. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said last month that Israel would continue to act against the Houthis "with force, determination and sophistication."


American hostage families to attend Trump inauguration

Families of American hostages who are still believed to be held in Gaza will attend President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration later this month, a release from the families said Wednesday.

"During the trip, the families plan to meet with officials from the incoming Trump administration, along with members of Congress and their staff," the release said.

"The families are urging leaders to prioritize the safe return of their loved ones and to take decisive action to bring an end to their prolonged captivity," it added.

There are seven American hostages still believed to be held captive inside Gaza, according to the families.

Trump said this week that "all hell will break out in the Middle East" if the remaining Gaza hostages are not released before his inauguration on Jan. 20.

-ABC News' Nadine Shubailat and Ellie Kaufman


Israel recovers body of hostage found in Gaza tunnel

The Israeli Defense Forces and the Shin Bet "located and returned the kidnapped body" of hostage Yosef Al-Zaydani on Tuesday "from an underground tunnel in the Rafah area," the army said in a release Wednesday. Israel said it has also recovered another body and are working to determine whether it is Al-Zaydani's son, Hamza.

The Israel Defense Forces said they have identified the body of one hostage, Yosef Al-Zaydani, and are examining the identify of the second body.

The IDF believes the second body is likely Hamza Al-Zaydani, but they are not certain yet, so at this time the IDF is saying they've identified one body and are examining the findings of a second body.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his "deep sorrow for the bitter news that the Al-Zaydani received today," in a statement Wednesday.

-ABC News' Jordana Miller and Ellie Kaufman


Israeli warplanes bomb West Bank

The Israel Defense Forces said Wednesday its fighter jets "struck a terrorist cell" in the occupied West Bank Palestinian town of Tamun.

Unconfirmed reports by local media suggested that two children were among three Palestinians killed.

On Tuesday, the IDF said its aircraft struck and killed two armed Palestinian militants in the area of Tamun after an armed cell opened fire toward Israeli security forces there.

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