Lebanon’s capital, Beirut, reported that at least 492 people, including 35 children, were killed by Israeli air strikes on Monday, the health ministry said. This was the worst day for cross-border violence since the start of the Gaza war.
The rising tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, which have reached levels not seen in almost a year, have drawn harsh criticism from Arab powers.
Following the historic attack on Israel on October 7, which attracted the support of Iran and included Hezbollah and other Palestinian militant groups, Hamas and other Palestinian terrorists declared war on Israel.
Conflict between Israel and Lebanon: On October 7, Israel launched its largest ariel offensive against Iran-backed Shiite militant group Hezbollah, resulting in the deaths of around to 500 people in southern Lebanon. This was the first time since the war in Gaza began. About 100 women and children were among the 1,650 persons who died, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.
September 23, 2024: As Hezbollah and Israeli forces continue their cross-border warfare, smoke is rising in Tyre, southern Lebanon. Aziz Taher/REUTERS THE DAY’S TPX IMAGES (REUTERS)
September 23, 2024: As Hezbollah and Israeli forces continue their cross-border warfare, smoke is rising in Tyre, southern Lebanon. Aziz Taher/REUTERS THE DAY’S TPX IMAGES (REUTERS)
Because Hezbollah was still firing hundreds of rockets into Israel every day, there were minor skirmishes and confrontations along Israel’s northern border with Lebanon. Acting in solidarity with the Palestinian people who are enduring Israel’s ruthless military campaign in Gaza, the group declared.
Following Israel’s July assassination of its top commander, Faud Shukr, Hezbollah launched rockets and drones, escalating tensions in August. Following the spate of explosions involving hundreds of pagers and radios around Lebanon, the militant organization threatened Israel with a “open-ended battle of reckoning” on Sunday by launching more than 100 rockets once more. The incident targeting Hezbollah members was attributed by Lebanon to Israel and its premier intelligence organization, Mossad.
An all-out war may be the only way to halt Hezbollah’s strikes on Israel’s northern borders and allow its citizens to return to their homes, according to Israel’s claims that diplomatic attempts to stop the attacks are failing.
Here are the most recent developments about the conflict between Israel and Lebanon.
-Israeli military announced it will increase the scope of its aerial attack operation targeting what it regards as Hezbollah’s weapons sites in eastern and southern Lebanon. There is no imminent land invasion, according to an Israeli military officer, who stated that the campaign’s main goal is to weaken the group’s military power.
“I want to clarify Israel’s policy: we do not wait for the threat, we are ahead of it,” stated Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, in reference to the “complicated days” that lay ahead.
-Netanyahu requested the Lebanese people to “get out of harm’s way now” in a video message, saying that Israel’s campaign is not directed at them. You have served as human shields for Hezbollah for a very long time. Rockets were planted in your living rooms, and missiles in your garages. Our cities and people are the target audience for them. We need to grab those weapons in order to protect our people from Hezbollah attacks,” he continued.
Masoud Pezeshkian, the president of Iran, threatened to bring the Middle East to a full-scale conflict and charged Israel with wanting to do so. The effects of instability in the Middle East would be irrevocable, thus we do not want to be its cause, he stated.
Antonio Guterres, the secretary-general of the United Nations (UN), expressed his “grave alarm over the escalating situation” in Lebanon. He expressed concern about Hezbollah’s ongoing attacks into Israel as well as Israel’s bombing campaign. “A diplomatic solution has to be the focus of all efforts,” he declared.
-EU Foreign Affairs Chief Josep Borrell stated that the conflicts pose a threat to a “all-out war” in the area. We are on the verge of entering a full-fledged war, in my opinion. In front of an assembly of international leaders at the UN, Borrell stated, “We’re seeing more military strikes, more damage, more collateral damage, and more victims.”
-To stop the war from spreading, the US announced that it would talk to friends and partners about “concrete ideas”. US efforts to defuse the situation in Lebanon were mentioned by President Biden.