Tragedy struck the northern Lebanese town of Ain Yaaqoub, where at least 14 individuals lost their lives, and 15 others sustained injuries due to an Israeli airstrike, as reported by the local mayor.
This strike marks a grim milestone as it represents the northernmost location in Lebanon to be attacked by Israeli forces since tensions escalated in October 2023. The targeted building was home to around 30 residents, including several Syrian refugees.
“Some individuals remain trapped beneath the rubble,” the mayor noted, highlighting the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
Earlier in the day, another Israeli operation in the southern town of Saksakiyeh resulted in the deaths of at least seven people and left seven others wounded, according to information from the Lebanese health ministry.
The airstrikes come amid reports of a potential ceasefire. Gideon Saar, Israel’s new foreign minister, mentioned there have been advancements toward halting hostilities in Lebanon, where violence has persisted for over six weeks, primarily targeting the militant group Hezbollah. “There is certainly progress,” Saar stated when asked about a truce, adding, “We are coordinating with the Americans on this issue,” during a press briefing in Jerusalem.
Since late September, Israel significantly intensified its airstrikes against Hezbollah throughout Lebanon and deployed ground troops on September 30. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has articulated that the operation’s primary goal is to drive Hezbollah forces north of the Litani River, which traverses southern Lebanon. Stopping Hezbollah from rearming is another critical objective. This group, linked with Iran, poses a formidable challenge to Israel’s security.
Mr. Saar reaffirmed Israel’s stance, saying they would consider a ceasefire only if Hezbollah is effectively removed from the border and cannot receive fresh military supplies arriving “from Syria, via the sea, or through the airport.” He cautioned, “Ultimately, the main hurdle will be ensuring compliance with whatever agreements are reached.”
This ongoing conflict has displaced tens of thousands of Israelis, whose lives were turned upside down when Hezbollah escalated cross-border firings more than a year ago, citing support for Palestinian militants from Hamas. This armed response led to the current war situation in Gaza.
In a separate development, a spokesperson for Netanyahu disclosed that the Prime Minister had authorized pager attacks against Hezbollah back in September. Thousands of pagers detonated simultaneously on September 17 in southern Beirut and various Hezbollah strongholds, predominantly after the devices alerted recipients with beeping signals.
Initially, the Israeli military hesitated to address inquiries regarding these detonations.
The consequences were severe: over 3,400 individuals suffered injuries from these September attacks alone.
A Hezbollah representative described the incident as a “massive security breach” for the group amid a year of continuous conflict with Israel. Altogether, the pager explosions, along with a follow-up attack involving weaponized walkie-talkies, resulted in 39 fatalities and injured upwards of 3,400 people.
Israeli media reported that during a cabinet session, Netanyahu acknowledged his approval of the pager attacks, despite resistance from senior defense leaders and political figures who opposed such actions. However, he pressed on with the initiative.
Hezbollah had been leveraging pagers as a simplistic communication tool to evade Israeli tracking and monitoring, as revealed by sources familiar with the group’s operations.
Following the pager detonations, Israel escalated its actions by targeting and killing Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in an airstrike, further intensifying the ongoing conflict.
As the situation continues to spiral, the international community watches closely, hoping for a resolution that can restore some semblance of peace amid the turmoil. The humanitarian crises unfolding in both Lebanon and Israel illustrate the profound impact of this conflict on ordinary lives, raising urgent questions about the path to peace.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
