Attacking Each Other With Hezbollah, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu Postpones Travel To New York

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu/PHOTO via Instagram @b.netanyahu

JAKARTA - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu postponed his trip to New York to attend the UN General Assembly meeting due to ongoing fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.

Netanyahu is scheduled to fly today, but his office said Israeli PM would fly to New York on Thursday, September 26 and return on Saturday.

Netanyahu is expected to speak at the United Nations on Friday, September 27.

Earlier, US President Joe Biden only briefly mentioned the widespread fighting in the Middle East in a speech at the UN General Assembly, which occurred after cross-border attacks killed hundreds of people.

While acknowledging the situation of tension has escalated, a diplomatic solution is still possible.

The Hezbollah missile, which was intercepted near Israel's Tel Aviv, marks the first time a missile fired by a militant group has reached near the city.

"This is the first time Hezbollah has shot at Tel Aviv," said Israel's international military spokesman Nadav Shoshani.

It is believed to be the first ballistic missile launched by Hezbollah towards Israel.

Iran-backed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has repeatedly said any Israeli attack on the Lebanese capital would trigger Hezbollah's attack on Tel Aviv, Israel's economic center.

No missile was fired by Hezbollah into Israel that reached the southern region such as Tel Aviv during the latest escalation of tensions, or in the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah.

Meanwhile, Israel said there were no reports of damage or injuries after the intercept.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah said it launched a Qadr 1 surface-to-surface ballistic missile to support the Palestinian people in Gaza and to defend Lebanon and its people.