Israel-Iran latest: Hezbollah and Iran vow retaliation as World Central Kitchen honors worker killed

Iran’s arming began in earnest in the 1980s with Shiite forces in Lebanon fighting against Israel. They became the Hezbollah militia.

The arming expanded with the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq that toppled dictator Saddam Hussein, a longtime foe of Tehran.

Iran strongly backed Syrian President Bashar Assad in his country’s long war. And Iran has continued when the opportunity has arisen, even arming Sunni militants while viewing itself as the world’s defender of Shiite Muslims.

Those relationships are managed by Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, one of the most powerful armed groups in the Middle East.

The militias in Iran’s self-described “Axis of Resistance” include: Iraqi militias, Lebanon’s Hezbollah, Palestinian militant forces and Yemen’s Houthi rebels.

Nadi Salem Awad Salout, who died following an Israeli airstrike on August 7, was the eighth World Central Kitchen team member to be killed in Gaza.

On April 1, 2024 an IDF airstrike killed Saifeddin Issam Ayad Abutaha of Palestine, John Chapman of Britain, Jacob Flickinger of the US and Canada, Lalzawmi “Zomi” Frankcom of Australia, James Henderson of Britain, James Kirby of Britain, and Damian Soból of Poland.

The seven workers were traveling in a deconflicted zone in two armored cars branded with the WCK logo and a soft skin vehicle.

Images of the burned out vehicle shocked the world after being broadcast.

Israel has intensified its bombardment of Gaza, hitting two schools, killing at least 40 people and ordering sweeping evacuations.

It comes as its allies brace for Iran and Hezbollah to retaliate over the killing of two top commanders in Tehran and Beirut.

Catch up with the latest here from Andy Gregory:

Authorities say two men linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard are facing terrorism charges in the US in connection with the interception of a vessel in the Arabian Sea that resulted in the deaths of two Navy SEALs.

Read the full story here:

The leaders of the US, Egypt and Qatar released a statement on Thursday in which they vowed to “bring immediate relied” to the people of Gaza, those held hostage, and their families.

“The time has come to conclude the ceasefire and hostages and detainees release deal,” the statement read.

“The three of us and our teams have worked tirelessly over many months to forge a framework agreement that is now on the table with only the details of implementation left to conclude. This agreement is based on the principles as outlined by President Biden on May 31, 2024, and endorsed by UN Security Council Resolution 2735.

“There is no further time to waste nor excuses from any party for further delay. It is time to release the hostages, begin the ceasefire, and implement this agreement. As mediators, if necessary, we are prepared to present a final bridging proposal that resolves the remaining implementation issues in a manner that meets the expectations of all parties.

“We have called on both sides to resume urgent discussion on Thursday, August 15 in Doha or Cairo to close all remaining gaps and commence implementation of the deal without further delay.”

The statement was signed by US President Joe Biden, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and Amir of the State of Qatar HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

At least 16 people were killed on Thursday after Israel conducted airstrikes on two school complexes being used to shelter displaced people in the northern Gaza Strip, according to the Palestinian Civil Defense.

Israel’s military said that the attacks were intended to destroy Hamas “command-and-control centers” inside the school compounds, which were in the Tuffah neighborhood of Gaza City, The New York Times reported. The military claimed that it had taken steps “to mitigate the risk of harming civilians.”

A number of other people were still missing beneath the rubble, a spokesman for the Palestinian Civil Defense said.

The attacks in the school compounds were among a series of Israeli airstrikes across Gaza on Thursday that killed at least 40 people and left several others critically injured, the organization added.

The World Central Kitchen has paid tribute to Nadi Salem Awad Salout, one of its employees who was killed by an Israeli airstrike on August 7 near Deir al-Balah, Gaza.

The charity described the 37-year-old as “an integral member” of its team from the early days of its response and “a humanitarian at his very core.”

Salout joined the World Central Kitchen team in January 2024 when he played a crucial role in setting up the WCK warehouse in Rafah, helping to put systems in place that made the operation more efficient.

He later transferred to a WCK warehouse located in Deir al-Balah and worked around the clock, often staying after hours to receive trucks full of desperately needed supplies, the charity said.

According to witness accounts Salout was fatally injured by shrapnel from an Israeli airstrike that used seven missiles to target multiple buildings. He was alone in his vehicle on his way home after work in one of our WCK warehouses.

“WCK colleagues who worked shoulder to shoulder with Nadi remember him as a honest, dedicated, and diligent teammate whose humor brought joy to everyone around him, even in the darkest of circumstances,” a WCK statement read.

“They describe his approach to providing humanitarian aid, despite innumerable obstacles, as full of hope and optimism. Nadi’s closest colleagues and the entire WCK family are mourning this tremendous loss.”

WCK CEO Erin Gore added, “Our thoughts and support are with our colleagues working in unimaginable circumstances and grieving the loss of an amazing human.”

Salout was a husband and a father of four young children.

Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind behind the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel, has been announced as the new leader of the militant group Hamas.

He rose to the top position after the killing of the previous leader, Ismail Haniyeh, in an explosion in Iran that has been blamed on Israel.

Here is a profile of the new leader:

Italy’s premier Giorgia Meloni has urged Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian to avoid escalation, her office has said.

During the phone call on Thursday, Ms Meloni “emphasised the need to prevent the expansion of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, including with reference to Lebanon, urging her counterpart to avoid further escalation and to reopen the path to dialogue”, the statement said.