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.
Meanwhile, the 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. The Israel Defense Forces continues its intense airstrike and ground campaigns in Gaza.
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.
43 killed by Israeli strikes on Gaza in 24 hours, officials say
The Israel Defense Forces continued strikes on northern and central neighborhoods of the Gaza Strip overnight.
People mourn next to the bodies of loved ones killed during an Israeli strike, at Al-Ahli Arab hospital in Gaza City on Dec. 19, 2024.
Omar Al-qattaa/AFP via Getty Images
At least 18 bodies were brought to the al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City, the Palestinian Civil Defence reported.
Palestinian medical sources in the Hamas-run territory said at least 43 people were killed in Israeli attacks over the past 24 hours.
-ABC News' Samy Zyara, Bruno Nota and Somayeh Malekian
Dec 19, 2024, 3:58 AM EST
Israel launches Yemen airstrikes
Israeli forces conducted "precise strikes on Houthi military targets in Yemen," the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement early Thursday morning local time. The strikes targeted "ports and energy infrastructure in Sanaa," the IDF said.
Firefighters extinguish a fire at a power station following Israeli airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, on Dec. 19, 2024.
Khaled Abdullah/Reuters
IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said the Houthis have been conducting missile and drone strikes on Israel over the past 14 months and referred to the missile fired towards Israel from Yemen on Wednesday evening. Israeli forces intercepted the missile, the IDF said.
"The Houthis have been carrying out attacks against Israel in violation of international law and the Houthi regime is a threat to peace and security in the region," Hagari said.
He continued, "Who is behind the Houthis? Iran. The regime in Iran funds, arms and directs the Houthis' terror activities."
"As we have shown against other enemies in other arenas, we will continue to act against anyone in the Middle East that threatens the state of Israel and we will defend the people of Israel," Hagari said.
-ABC News' Dana Savir and Ellie Kaufman
Dec 19, 2024, 3:55 AM EST
Israel intercepts missile fired from Yemen
The Israel Defense Forces said Wednesday that it intercepted a missile launched from Yemen, with no reported casualties.
A member of a bomb disposal unit inspects the rubble of a destroyed school building in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv, on Dec. 19, 2024.
Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images
"Rocket and missile sirens were sounded following the possibility of falling debris from the interception," the IDF said in a statement.
The IDF later said that debris damaged a school in Ramat Efal a suburb of Tel Aviv.
-ABC News' Becky Perlow, Dana Savir and Ellie Kaufman
Dec 18, 2024, 7:20 AM EST
US has unseen evidence of Assad atrocities, State Department says
In response to a question about the suspected mass graves being uncovered in Syria, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said Tuesday that the U.S. has evidence of other atrocities that occurred under toppled President Bashar Assad's regime that is not currently available to the public.
Syrian rebel fighters stand at a site identified as a mass grave for detainees killed under rule of former President Bashar Assad in Najha, south of Damascus, on Dec. 17, 2024.
Hussein Malla/AP
"When you look at the evidence that is coming out of Syria in the now 10 days since the Assad regime fell, it continues to shock the conscience," he said.
"And I'm referring not just to the mass graves that have been uncovered, but information that we have been gathering inside the United States government, including information that's not yet publicly known," Miller added.
"We just continue to see more and more evidence pile up of how brutal they were in mistreating their own people, in murdering and torturing their own people," Miller said.
