Israel-Hamas conflict: US declares to continue providing weapons to the Jewish State, UN warns of dangerous situation

As Israeli forces and the Hamas movement continue to clash in the Gaza Strip, the US has confirmed that it will provide more weapons and ammunition to the Jewish State.

Xung đột Israel-Hamas: Mỹ tuyên bố vẫn cấp vũ khí cho Israel, LHQ cảnh báo tình trạng nguy hiểm. (Nguồn: AFP)

Smoke rises from shelling by Israeli forces in the southern Gaza Strip on December 16 during the conflict with Hamas. (Source: AFP)

On December 18, the French news agency AFP reported that according to a statement from the Israeli Prime Minister's Office, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said: "We will continue to provide Israel with the equipment it needs to defend itself, including essential ammunition, tactical vehicles and air defense systems."

In addition, Secretary Austin also warned Iran to "stop" supporting Yemen's Houthi rebels, who have increased attacks on ships in the Red Sea since the Israel-Hamas conflict began on October 7.

According to the head of the Pentagon, the US is leading a multinational task force at sea to protect the fundamental principle of freedom of navigation, noting: "Iran's support for Houthi attacks on commercial vessels must end."

According to him, an international coalition will be established to solve this problem.

On the same day, after Israel admitted that its army mistakenly killed three hostages who had escaped from their captors in Gaza on December 15, the High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell criticized the Jewish State's military.

The Israeli military is showing “a staggering lack of discrimination” in targeting Gaza, he said, citing the deaths of hostages, worshippers and other Palestinian civilians in recent military operations.

Mr. Borrell made it clear that these actions must stop, and a humanitarian ceasefire is an urgent request.

The 27-nation EU is divided over how Israel should proceed with its military operations in Gaza. Most support a call for a ceasefire endorsed by a majority of the UN General Assembly. However, others say such a move would prevent Israel from achieving its stated goal of wiping out Hamas.

Amid the tense Israel-Hamas conflict, also on December 18, Commander of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Aroldo Lazaro warned that the clashes between the Israeli army (IDF) and Hezbollah forces in Lebanon are pushing the border between the two countries into a "tense, difficult and dangerous" situation.

Speaking to reporters in the capital Beirut, Mr. Lazaro stated: "We are trying to maintain a mediating and coordinating role to avoid miscalculations and misunderstandings that could lead to a new escalation."

According to Mr. Lazaro, Hezbollah used long-range missiles, while Israel sent attack aircraft to violate Lebnanon's airspace. The fighting between the two sides is related to the developments in the Gaza Strip battlefield between the IDF and the Hamas movement.

On this issue, in a meeting with Israeli officials, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin urged the Hezbollah movement to avoid causing "a broader conflict", affirming that he did not want to see the Israel-Hamas conflict expand into a regional or broader war.

Cross-border fighting between Israel and Hezbollah since October 8 has left 130 people dead, most of them Hezbollah fighters, but also including a Lebanese soldier and 17 civilians. On the Israeli side, four civilians and seven soldiers have been killed.

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