At least three Americans have been killed in a surprise Hamas terrorist attack on Israel near the Gaza border, officials said Sunday.
Several other US citizens remain unaccounted for, according to an internal US government memo obtained by CNN.
The identities of the three dead Americans have not yet been made public.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken revealed earlier Sunday that his office was working to confirm the number of Americans killed and missing in Israel after Hamas coordinated several attacks on border sites.
“Yes, we have reports that several Americans were killed. We’re working overtime to confirm it,” Blinken told CNN’s “State of the Union.”
“At the same time, there are reports of missing Americans and again, We are working to confirm those reports,” he added without giving an estimate.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken insisted on Sunday that the US stands by Israel as the Middle Eastern country battles the biggest military conflict it has faced in five decades.REUTERS
The US embassy in Jerusalem has issued orders for Americans to “shelter in place” during Saturday’s attack, with the office updating its contingency plan “for any potential evacuation by land or air.”
More than 700 Israelis have been killed and more than 2,000 wounded in the “war,” with the Israeli Prime Minister’s office adding that more than 100 people have been taken hostage by terrorist groups.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed that Israel will exact “great revenge” on Hamas. ZUMAPRESS.com
Israel has since officially declared war and launched a counterattack against Palestine, which has also seen civilian casualties as a result.
About 370 Palestinians have been killed, with another 1,990 reported missing, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
Blinken said America would stand behind its ally Israel in defending itself against Hamas, with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also announcing Sunday that the US would provide additional equipment and resources to the Israel Defense Forces.
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
