U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein says he believes all-out war between Israel and Lebanon's powerful militant group Hezbollah can be avoided but that Israel and Hamas need to move towards a peace agreement. His comments came during a visit by the U.S. Envoy to Beirut.

Beirut

Israel and Iran have agreed a ceasefire after a twelve day conflict. Meanwhile, Israel strikes in Gaza continue with the humanitarian crisis deepening.

Middle East Conflict

U.S. Special Envoy Amos Hochstein has visited Beirut to discuss preventing an all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah. His visit comes amid ongoing conflicts involving drone strikes and retaliatory attacks between the two entities. Hochstein emphasized the importance of avoiding a full-scale war and hinted at the need for peace efforts, not only with Lebanon but also in Gaza.

Seventeen people were injured in a drone strike targeting a car and a motorcycle in southern Lebanon's Abbasiyah. It's unclear how many of those injured were Hezbollah operatives. The attack followed Hezbollah's rocket and drone strikes on northern Israel, which did not result in any reported injuries. In response, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) struck a Hezbollah military site in southern Lebanon's Aita Shaib.

While Hochstein expressed optimism about avoiding further escalations, he also touched on broader regional dynamics. The Biden administration sees a linkage between a Gaza ceasefire and a potential Iranian response to the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. Iranian officials have indicated that any retaliatory strike could be delayed to allow Gaza ceasefire talks to progress.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei suggested that not retaliating against Israel might be perceived as a mistake, citing religious interpretations. This adds another layer of complexity to the situation, as international and regional actors navigate potential diplomatic resolutions.



U.S. Special Envoy visits Beirut to stave of war

As Israel awaits a retaliatory strike from Lebanon, Hezbollah fighters continue to be targeted from the sky. At least 17 people were injured in a drone strike targeting a car and a motorcycle in the southern Lebanese town of Abbasiyah. It wasn't immediately clear how many of them were Hezbollah operatives. The airstrike followed several Hezbollah rocket and drone attacks on northern Israel, with no reported injuries. The IDF responded by striking a Hezbollah military site in southern Lebanon's Aita Shaib. We fully take responsibility for the situation we see before us in southern Lebanon. There is a systematic destruction of border villages and towns. There are daily assaults that escalate these aggressions. The least we can do is take our responsibilities with full seriousness, courage, and with all the strength we have. As for the diplomatic route, U.S. Special Envoy Amos Hochstein visited Beirut on Wednesday. In meetings with top Lebanese officials, Hochstein said a wider war between Israel and Hezbollah could be avoided. We continue to believe that a diplomatic resolution is achievable because we continue to believe that no one truly wants a full-scale war between Lebanon and Israel, especially not the Lebanese people and the Israeli people. We can reach an end to the conflict now, but we understand that we also need to work to get to an end to the conflict in Gaza. The Biden administration also sees a clear linkage between a Gaza ceasefire and a potential Iranian attack on Israel, in retaliation for the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. It's getting hard. We'll see what Iran does and we'll see what happens if there's any attack. But I'm not giving up. Do you have the understanding that Iran could cease or stop doing an action if a ceasefire deal was possible? That's my expectation. We'll see. Thank you. Biden's comments come after Iranian officials told Reuters that a retaliatory strike could be delayed to allow Gaza ceasefire talks to progress. But Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei hinted on Wednesday that avoiding such a strike against Israel would be a mistake. According to the interpretation of the Holy Quran, Khamenei said, a non-tactical retreat in any field, be it in the military field, political, propaganda or economic fields, leads to God's wrath.

Australia said on Wednesday (July 30) it will add YouTube to sites covered by its world-first ban on social media for teenagers, reversing an earlier decision to exempt the Alphabet-owned video-sharing site and potentially setting up a legal challenge.

Canberra

Australia expands teen social media ban to YouTube

President Donald Trump said on Wednesday (July 30) the United States will impose a 25% tariff on goods imported from India, as well as an unspecified penalty for buying Russian weapons and oil, on Aug. 1.

Washington

Global Tariffs

Trump says U.S. to hit India with 25% tariff starting August 1

Mourners flooded the streets of Birmingham to celebrate the life of rock-and-roll legend Ozzy Osbourne during his funeral procession in the United Kingdom. Mark Savage, a music reporter at the BBC, a CBS News partner, joins with more details.

Birmingham

Ozzy Osbourne fans flood Birmingham streets to mourn late music icon

U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters before departing from Scotland that Jeffrey Epstein poached workers from his Mar-a-Lago spa. Trump mentioned Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein's most vocal accusers, in his latest remarks.

Trump says Epstein 'stole' young women from Mar-a-Lago spa

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Jerusalem

Palestinian activist killed by Israeli settler in West Bank

A powerful magnitude 8.8 earthquake off Russia's Far Eastern Kamchatka Peninsula triggered tsunami waves of up to 16 feet nearby, and sparked evacuation orders in Japan, Hawaii and across the Pacific on Wednesday (July 30).

Hawaii

Tsunami reaches Hawaii after huge quake shakes Russia's Far East

The U.N. General Assembly brought high-level officials together to promote a two-state solution to the decades-old Israel-Palestinian conflict. Israel and the United States are boycotting the two-day meeting, co-chaired by the foreign ministers of France and Saudi Arabia

New York

Israel and U.S. boycott UN Summit for two-state solution

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Trump officials suggest potential tariff truce with China

Police say the man who shot and killed four people in a New York City office building before he took his own life had a "documented mental health history." Mayor Eric Adams says he may have been targeting the National Football League (NFL).

Manhattan gunman had 'documented mental health history'

Jeffrey Epstein-associate Ghislaine Maxwell is offering to testify before Congress in exchange for concessions like full immunity. CBS News Department of Justice reporter Jake Rosen has more.

Ghislaine Maxwell offers to testify before Congress

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Tuesday (July 29) Britain was prepared to recognize a Palestinian state in September at the United Nations General Assembly unless Israel takes a number of steps to improve life for Palestinians.

London

UK to recognize Palestinian state unless Israel takes action

Russia launched overnight air strikes on over 70 Ukrainian cities, killing more than 20 people, according to President Zelenskyy. A pregnant woman died near a hospital in the southeast, while a prison strike killed at least 17.

Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

Deadly Russian air raids hit Ukraine as Trump warns of sanctions

For the first time, human rights groups inside Israel are accusing their own government of committing genocide in Gaza. Israel insists it is targeting Hamas, not civilians—despite nearly 60,000 Palestinian deaths since the war began almost two years ago.

Rights groups in Israel accuse country of genocide

As Gaza’s crisis worsens, France is advocating for a two-state solution at a UN conference co-chaired by the French foreign minister. The meeting follows President Macron’s announcement that France will formally recognize a Palestinian state in September.

France leads UN talks on Israel-Palestine two-state solution

Former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe was found guilty of bribery and witness tampering in an unprecedented trial that has shaken the country.

Bogotá

Ex-Colombian president Uribe convicted of witness tampering, bribery

Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev posted on social media that President Trump's deadline push for a ceasefire with Ukraine is "a threat and a step towards war."

Moscow

Russian official calls Trump's ceasefire deadline 'a threat'

Ukraine says Russia's overnight air strikes hit a prison in Zaporizhzhia in the southeast, killing at least 17 people. Another 35 were injured. Authorities say the attacks destroyed the jail buildings and damaged several nearby houses.

Zaporizhzhia

Russian air strikes hit a prison in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia, 17 killed

Russia launched yet another attack on Ukraine overnight, with more than 300 drones and seven missiles. While most of the barrage was intercepted, the attacks prompted President Trump to give his Russian counterpart an ultimatum.

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A gunman killed at least one police officer and shot a handful of other people Monday in the heart of New York City. CBS News New York has the latest details.

Gunman kills police officer, wounds others in Midtown Manhattan

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Traverse City

Suspect pleads not guilty in Walmart stabbing attack

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U.S. Justice Dept. shuts down four child abuse websites

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Bangkok

Gunman kills five at busy Bangkok fresh food market

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Kuala Lumpur

Thailand and Cambodia agree to ceasefire

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Stockholm

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Riedlingen

German train derails, killing at least three people

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Abnormally high temperatures combined with heat and drought have fuelled destructive wildfires in parts of Europe, forcing thousands to be evacuated.

Athens

Heat fuels destructive wildfires in parts of Europe

Michigan officials say they will file terrorism charges and 11 charges of assault with intent to murder against the man who allegedly carried out a knife attack at a Walmart on Saturday. Lana Zak reports.

Garfield Township

Suspect in Michigan stabbing rampage to face terrorism charges

FAA investigators are in Denver after passengers and crew aboard an American Airlines flight were forced to evacuate when a tire blew during takeoff and the plane's rapid deceleration caused a brake fire, the airline said. Elise Preston reports.

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