begin with a fox news alert. we have just been notified within the last few minutes that the united states, along with our allies in the u.k. have begun striking the iran-backed houthi group inside of yemen. now, we do not know the extent of these strikes but they come after the houthis have been launching missiles and one way drones on u.s. positions and commercial vessels in the middle east now for a number of months. picking up in recent days in fact this action by the administration comes only after there have been 130 such attacks. the white house has called a lid. that means biden has gone to bed, so as we strike the military targets in the middle east tonight, we don t expect to hear from our commander-in-chief. meanwhile these strikes come as defense secretary lloyd austin is still out of commission. earlier today the pentagon spokesperson strolled to the mics and leveled what now looks like a telegraph. we will continue to call on these iranian proxies to cease the
israel of trying to ignite conflict across the middle east, after a senior hamas leader was killed by a drone strike in southern beirut. saleh al arouri and at least five others died in the blast on tuesday. he was considered one of the founders of hamas military wing, the al qassam brigades. israel has been blamed for the attack but has not claimed responsibility. meanwhile, hamas have condemned the strike calling it an act of terrorism and the armed group hezbollah said it was an assault on lebanese sovereignty. the strike marks the first targeted killing of a hamas official outside the palestinian territories. at least 20,000 palestinians in gaza have been reported killed since israel began bombing the territory in the wake of hamas s 7th october attacks. let s go live tojerusalem and our middle east correspondent yolande knell for more on the latest. yolande, we know that israel has not claimed responsibility for the attack, which is very much in keeping with its polic
lebanon s government has accused israel of trying to ignite conflict across the middle east after a senior hamas leader was killed by a drone strike in southern beirut. saleh al arouri and at least five others died in the blast on tuesday. he was considered one of the founders of hamas military wing, the al qassam brigades. israel has been blamed for the attack but has not claimed responsibility. meanwhile hamas have condemned the strike calling it an act of terrorism and the armed group hezbollah said it was an assault on lebanese sovereignty. the strike marks the first targeted killing of a hamas official outside the palestinian territories. at least 20,000 palestinians in gaza have been reported killed since israel began bombing the territory in the wake of hamas s 7th october attacks. i spoke to our middle east correspondent yolande knell injerusalem for more on the latest. well, this is really reigniting the fears of a wider escalation in israel s war with hamas. saleh
you ve been watching fireworks in athens and romania, incredible displays as those countries ring in the new year. i want to go now to cnn s brynn be gin grass. you are live in the middle of all the action in times square tonight. it looks a little chilly but it also seems like folks are ready to party. reporter: there s so many billboards of lights, it feels likes you re in a tanning bed. we are hours away from the celebrations you just showed all the viewers, but people are still pretty excited, right, to ring in the new year here in times square. betlet me talk with a few of those people, what is your name and where are you from? jenna demers, i m from maine. is this your first time in times square for new year s eve. yes, we came to stay at the rockefeller center for christmas and we were already here so we just decided to stay. reporter: you re doing all of it. what are you most excited to see, witness, feel when the clock strikes 12:00. watching th
our viewers and thank you for joining us on this final night of 2023. i m paula reed in washington. and we re counting down to the start of the new year here in the united states, with just hours to go until the ball drops in new york city s times square. many parts of eastern europe and asia have already kicked off the new year with dazzling fireworks displays. let s take a look at some of those celebrations and let s start with abu dhabi, ringing in the new year just an hour ago. absolutely incredible. 5,000 drones were used to spell out that festival sign in the air. abu dhabi setting the bar quite high for 2024. now let s take a look at sydney, australia. i mean, that is absolutely incredible, that show over the sydney harbor bridge. now, for something a little different, hlet s head to tokyo where they re starting the new year with a beautiful lantern release. in japan, lanterns are a symbol of good luck and happiness. the perfect way to welcome good things in the new ye