LAUREN TAYLOR: ONE DAY AFTER THOUSANDS OF PAGERS AND WALKIE-TALKIES exploded, KILLing AT LEAST 37 PEOPLE AND INJURED NEARLY 3,000 OTHERS IN LEBANON – ISRAEL BOMBED SOUTHERN LEBANON THURSDAY.

ISRAELI OFFICIALS also SAID THEY THWARTED AN IRANIAN-LED ASSASSINATION PLOT.

THE DEVICE ATTACKS WERE AIMED AT HEZBOLLAH MILITANTS – AN IRANIAN BACKED MILITANT GROUP THAT’S BEEN STRIKING ISRAEL FOR NEARLY A YEAR – SINCE HAMAS’ OCTOBER 7TH ATTACK.

Israel’s ATTACKS HAVE AFFECTED hundreds HEZBOLLAH FIGHTERS AND many CIVILIANS, INCLUDING some HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND CHILDREN.

LEBANON’S PRIME MINISTER HAS DENOUNCED THE ATTACKS AS A ‘SERIOUS VIOLATION OF LEBANESE SOVEREIGNTY,’ WHILE THE LEBANESE RED CROSS REMAINS ON HIGH ALERT, RESPONDING TO MULTIPLE EXPLOSIONS ACROSS DIFFERENT AREAS.

THE INTENSIFYING EXCHANGES BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HEZBOLLAH HAVE RESULTED IN HUNDREDS OF CASUALTIES AND DISPLACED TENS OF THOUSANDS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BORDER.

ISRAEL’S DEFENSE MINISTER YOAV GALLANT DECLARED THE START OF A ‘NEW PHASE’ IN THE WAR – WITH ISRAEL BOLSTERING ITS MILITARY PRESENCE ALONG THE LEBANESE BORDER with THOUSANDS OF TROOPS WITH SPECIALIZED TRAINING.

AS BOTH SIDES DEMONSTRATE THEIR MILITARY CAPABILITIES, THE REGION BRACES FOR A POTENTIAL WIDER CONFRONTATION.

THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, INCLUDING THE U-S, U-N, AND E-U, is CALLING FOR DIPLOMATIC SOLUTIONS WHILE CONDEMNING THE VIOLENCE.

U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE ANTONY BLINKEN IS CAREFULLY ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF RECENT ATTACKS ON ONGOING CEASE-FIRE NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HAMAS.

Earlier this week, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told Pentagon officials he believed Israel could soon launch a ground offensive into Lebanon.

MEANWHILE – IN GAZA – THE Hamas-controlled HEALTH MINISTRY THERE SAYS 41,000 PALESTINIANS HAVE BEEN KILLED IN THE CONFLICT SO FAR – HOWEVER – THE MINISTRY DOES NOT DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN HAMAS MILITANTS AND CIVILIANS.

IT’S ESTIMATED HAMAS STILL HAS 101 HOSTAGES. IT’S UNKNOWN HOW MANY ARE STILL ALIVE.

FOR SAN, I’M LT..