Israel’s air force has killed hundreds in Lebanon in the deadliest escalation of cross-border violence in decades, attacking positions held by Hezbollah. The spike in conflict follows Hezbollah’s retaliatory rocket attacks into northern Israel, which fired fears of a broader regional war as tensions ignited by the Gaza conflict spread.
Death Toll and Displacement:
The Lebanese health ministry reports that more than 613 deaths have been recorded, most reportedly Hezbollah fighters, but at least 147 civilians are among the dead. At least 49 are reported dead on the Israeli side. Over 110,000 civilians are displaced inside Lebanon, while 70,000 in northern Israel.
Hezbollah Strikes Back:
Hezbollah has fired some 8,000 rockets into northern Israel in response to Israeli attacks. Many of these have hit military bases, but long-range weapons have reached far enough into Israel to force residents into bomb shelters.
Offensive: Israeli forces have been pounding Hezbollah’s infrastructure with significant attacks on rocket launchers, arms depots, and command centers in Lebanon. Notably, some of the key Hezbollah commanders targeted by the operations–such as Fuad Shukr, Ibrahim Aqil, and Ahmed Wahbi–were killed by these operations, which led to further rocket attacks by Hezbollah.
Humanitarian Crisis:
Both sides escalate the dangers to civilians. Residential areas in Lebanon, especially those near Hezbollah bases, have been obliterated by strikes, as have northern Israeli cities like Haifa, with some public infrastructure and private residences being destroyed.
Wider Implications:
This new bout of conflict has the undertone of the possibility of an Israel-Gaza war spilling over into a multi-front regional conflict engulfing Iran, the main backer of Hezbollah, and Syria. Even with calls for de-escalation from the US and other world powers, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah continues sending out signals of resolve, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to push on with military operations.
This level represented a pivotal point in the conflict since both sides were attacking each other in preparation for prolonged operations. The situation remains fluid since international diplomatic efforts are still trying to contain the situation from spreading further within the region.
