Lebanon plunged into darkness Saturday as the last operational power plant shut down following a deadly Israeli strike that prompted Hezbollah to launch a salvo of rockets at northern Israel.

On Thursday, Israeli negotiators and international mediators gathered in Qatar to negotiate a ceasefire in Gaza and secure the release of hostages held by Hamas, with the hope that a negotiated peace will prevent the conflict from escalating into a full-blown regional conflict.

Over the past month, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) demolished at least 50 tunnels under the Philadelphi Corridor, which separates the Gaza Strip from Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula; these tunnels were used by Hamas to smuggle weapons and munitions for waging war against Israel.

Russian President Vladimir Putin says Moscow backs the creation of a full-fledged Palestinian state, and he has publicly embraced visiting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

The U.S. State Department announced on Tuesday announced the approval of $20 billion in arms sales to Israel, which include numerous fighter jets and advanced air-to-air missiles. This decision comes amid heightened regional tensions following the assassinations of two prominent terrorists in Beirut and Tehran, with the “Axis of Evil” vowing retaliation for their deaths.

Israel’s Foreign Minister has accused Iran of smuggling weapons and cash through Jordan to terrorist proxies in Judea and Samaria, and of attempting to destabilize Jordan, thus establishing a new terror front along Israel’s eastern border.

The Palestinian Authority led by President Mahmoud Abbas is preparing a resolution against Israel’s settlements in the West Bank that it hopes will be passed at the 79th annual Session of the UN General Assembly which opens on September 10, the Jerusalem News Syndicate (JNS) reports.

The U.S. Department of Defense announced on Sunday that it has dispatched a nuclear-powered submarine, armed with over 150 missiles, to the Middle East, alongside a second aircraft carrier. This deployment is in response to escalating tensions in the region, following Iran’s vow to retaliate against Israel.

As Israel entered into Tisha B’Av, commemorating the destruction of the first and second Temples, the nation’s military leaders approved multi-front battle plans in response to the potential threat of an attack from Iran and its Middle Eastern proxies.

Hezbollah has completely vacated its headquarters in Beirut, implementing precautionary measures in anticipation of a potential Israeli retaliatory strike. The evacuation of personnel and resources indicates that Hezbollah is gearing up for a significant Israeli response as the threat of war intensifies.

In response to threats from Iran and Hezbollah following the targeted killings of senior Hezbollah and Hamas leaders in Beirut and Tehran, the Pentagon has bolstered its forces by deploying a squadron of F-22 Raptor fighter jets and a smaller-scale aircraft carrier to the Middle East. Analysts are anticipating a potential attack on Tish B’Av, which begins Monday night.

Israel’s military confirmed Saturday that it struck a school in Gaza City but denied that 90 people were killed as Hamas had claimed.

Jordan, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia have declined U.S. requests to contribute troops to a post-war peacekeeping force in Gaza, Israeli and Arab sources say.

Israel’s security cabinet convened Thursday night in Tel Aviv’s underground command room, as the country braced for a potential Hezbollah attack from Lebanon. This marked the first meeting there since the April 13-14 incident when Iran launched 300 missiles and drones at Israel, nearly all of which were intercepted.

The Biden Administration has cautioned Iran that its newly elected government and economy could face severe consequences if it launches a major attack against Israel, the Wall Street Journal reported.