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

The U.S-brokered ceasefire deal in Gaza is holding, after Hamas released the remaining Israeli hostages.

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.

U.S. President Donald Trump is ducking press questions about newly released emails connecting him to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s criminal activities ahead of an expected vote on releasing all Epstein case files by the U.S. House of Representatives as early as next week.

Washington

Trump avoids media’s Epstein email questions

The U.S. government lumbered back to life on Thursday (November 13) after the longest shutdown in U.S. history snarled air traffic, cut food assistance to low-income Americans and forced more than 1 million workers to go unpaid for more than a month. But the deep political divisions that caused the 43-day shutdown in the first place remain unresolved.

U.S. government opens up again but deep political divisions remain

China's factory output and retail sales grew at their weakest pace in over a year in October, piling pressure on policymakers to revamp the $19 trillion export-driven economy as mounting supply and demand strains threaten to further curtail growth.

Beijing

China's factory output, retail sales growth worst in over a year

Germany's government plans to bring back military service, to boost troop numbers to deal with the perceived threat from Russia. But voluntary conscription could become compulsory, if not enough recruits come forward.

Berlin

Germany outlines potential shift to compulsory conscription

As F-35 stealth fighter jets fly missions from a reopened naval base in Puerto Rico and Marines practice beach landings, sources tell CBS News the Pentagon is preparing for possible military action in Venezuela. Charlie D'Agata reports.

Pentagon preparing for possible military action in Venezuela

President Trump's name appears hundreds of times in the newly-released batch of 23,000 pages of records and messages from convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, raising questions about their relationship. Mr. Trump has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and has called the scandal a "hoax" perpetrated by Democrats.

Trump named hundreds of times in newly released Epstein files

A federal judge has ruled that hundreds of people detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement during "Operation Midway Blitz" in the Chicago area must be released. CBS News immigration and politics reporter Camilo Montoya-Galvez has more.

Chicago

Judge finds ICE illegally arrested hundreds of people in Chicago

For the first time in six weeks, the U.S. government is open. President Trump signed a bill last night to fund the government through the end of January.

Trump says he is 'willing to work with anyone' on health care

U.S. forces have killed four people in the latest strike on an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean. CBS News national security coordinating producer James LaPorta has more.

Caracas

U.S. forces kill four in latest Caribbean drug boat strike

Israeli settlers set fire to a mosque in the West Bank on Thursday (November 13) and sprayed racist slogans on its walls, Palestinian residents said.

Jerusalem

Israeli settlers torch mosque in West Bank, residents say

Thailand-Cambodia border tensions escalate days after a US-backed ceasefire agreement breaks down.

Bangkok

Thailand-Cambodia tensions escalate as truce hangs in the balance

A bipartisan group of lawmakers is one step closer to the full release of the Justice Department's documents on Jeffrey Epstein after securing the final signature needed to force a House vote. Scott MacFarlane reports.

House to vote on Epstein files release after bipartisan group push

With the Amazon nearing a tipping point, Indigenous voices are demanding immediate action at COP30, with campaigners saying their protests are a stark reminder that time is running out to stop catastrophic climate change.

Belém

Indigenous voices demand action at COP30 amid Amazon crisis

The U.S. government's longest standoff left both parties facing heavy criticism, and neither is likely to claim victory. Millions of Americans felt the impact, from hundreds of thousands of unpaid federal workers to families left without food stamps.

Trump signs deal to end record 43-day U.S. shutdown

Venezuela is preparing a 'massive mobilization' of its military as the U.S.’s largest warship arrives in the Caribbean Sea after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a military buildup in the region.

Venezuela readying military as U.S.’s largest warship arrives

After 43 days, Congress passes a bill to reopen the U.S. government—Trump to sign spending legislation into law.

Washington County

U.S. House votes to re-open government, Trump to sign bill

Linda Sun faces trial – Prosecutors allege she secretly advanced China’s interests while serving in New York government.

New York

Ex-aide to NY governor accused of being China agent

The House passed a funding bill to end the government shutdown on Wednesday night, sending the measure to President Trump's desk for final signature.

House passes bill to fund government and end U.S. shutdown

Canada’s Foreign Minister Anita Anand met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio during the G7 summit to discuss defense, trade, and global security cooperation amid growing geopolitical tensions.

Kananaskis

Canada meets with U.S. counterpart Rubio at G7 summit

Venezuela has announced a "massive mobilization" of its military forces, as the U.S. continues its military buildup in the Caribbean. The announcement comes in the wake of U.S. strikes that have targeted at least 20 vessels in the waters around Latin America, killing dozens of people.

Venezuela mobilizing military as U.S. builds up military presence

The House of Representatives is preparing to vote on a long-awaited bill to end the government shutdown. CBS News congressional reporter Taurean Small has more from Capitol Hill.

House of Representatives ready vote on ending government shutdown

Warning: Some details are disturbing. An Army OB-GYN in Texas is accused of years of sexual assault and abuse of women on multiple bases, according to a recent lawsuit.

Killeen

Army gynecologist accused of secretly taking videos during exams

U.S. House Democrats on Wednesday released emails from Jeffrey Epstein referencing President Donald Trump, who has denied any knowledge of the convicted sex offender's crimes. In a 2019 email, Epstein said Trump "knew about the girls as he asked Ghislaine to stop."

New emails from Epstein mentioning Trump released by House Democrats

Cleveland Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz was arraigned on Wednesday and pleaded not guilty to allegations of taking bribes to rig pitches. CBS News' Shanelle Kaul reports.

Brooklyn

Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz arraigned, pleads not guilty

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer backed the BBC while urging it to correct errors after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened a $1 billion lawsuit over a misleading edit of his Jan. 6, 2021 speech. The controversy led to the resignations of the BBC director general and head of news.

London

UK PM Keir Starmer backs BBC amid Trump threat

The U.S. House of Representatives will vote Wednesday on a spending bill that passed in the Senate earlier this week and could bring the longest government shutdown to an end.

House to vote on funding bill that could reopen government

The USS Gerald Ford aircraft carrier strike group has moved into the Latin America region, U.S. officials say, dramatically escalating a military buildup that has deepened tensions with Venezuela.

Largest U.S. aircraft carrier sailing to Latin America region

U.S. President Donald Trump sent a letter to Israeli President Isaac Herzog urging him to pardon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. CBS News' Courtney Kealy has more.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Trump urges Israel's president to pardon Benjamin Netanyahu

Three astronauts remain stuck in space after their return capsule was damaged by orbital debris—delaying their journey home.

Three Chinese astronauts stranded in space after capsule damage

The former first lady of Gabon and her son were being tried in absentia on various corruption charges.

See The Full Story

Middle East Conflict