Israel’s military has unleashed a series of intense airstrikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut, marking one of the most significant daytime assaults in the region. This ramped-up offensive comes after the Israeli defense minister made clear there would be no ceasefire until their objectives were fully realized.
Thick plumes of smoke were seen rising over Beirut as approximately ten airstrikes rained down throughout the morning hours.
In a warning distributed via social media, the Israeli army informed locals of their proximity to Hezbollah installations. Thankfully, there were no immediate confirmations of casualties.
Meanwhile, in northern Israel, residents had to seek refuge as drones were reportedly launched from Lebanon, according to military sources.
Among the rubble of an Israeli airstrike, local reports indicated five individuals lost their lives in the village of Baalchmay, situated about 15 kilometers southeast of Beirut, as confirmed by Lebanon’s health ministry. In another incident, an Israeli strike in Hermel, located in northeastern Lebanon, resulted in one additional fatality.
Since the onset of the bombardment in September, local people in Beirut have mainly vacated the southern suburbs. A video clip shared online captured the shocking moment when two missiles struck a ten-story building, obliterating it and unleashing clouds of dust and debris into the air.
Security sources noted that about 15 buildings were razed during the latest air strikes in the southern suburbs.
The conflict, ignited by hostilities in Gaza, had been simmering between Israel and Hezbollah for a year before Israel initiated ground operations in Lebanon last September. Since then, extensive areas across the nation have been subjected to relentless air assaults and troop deployments in the south.
Israel’s actions have severely impacted Hezbollah, claiming the lives of numerous key figures, including Hassan Nasrallah. Entire sections of the southern suburbs have been leveled, and villages near the southern borders have borne the brunt of the attacks. Reports indicate that since the conflict flared up a year ago, Israeli operations have resulted in over 3,200 fatalities in Lebanon, with the majority occurring in the past seven weeks alone, according to the Lebanese health ministry.
Additionally, Hezbollah’s retaliatory strikes have led to approximately 100 casualties among civilians and soldiers in northern Israel, as well as in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and southern Lebanon during the past year.
The Israeli military claimed responsibility for targeting around 100 Hezbollah sites across Lebanon, including vital infrastructure, arms depots, multiple militants, and launch mechanisms that discharged projectiles toward Israeli territory.
In terms of humanitarian concerns, the ongoing conflict has wreaked havoc, with Israel’s new defense minister, Israel Katz, stating recently that a truce would not materialize until their goals were met. He asserted, “Israel will not accept any arrangement that doesn’t ensure our right to combat and mitigate terrorism independently, while also achieving our military objectives aimed at disarming Hezbollah and pushing them beyond the Litani River.”
He further emphasized the need to securely allow residents of northern Israel to safely return to their homes.
Gideon Saar, the Israeli Foreign Minister, mentioned that while there has been “certain progress” regarding ceasefire discussions, the war is still ongoing, and the enforcement of any eventual ceasefire poses significant challenges. On the Lebanese side, the government—which includes Hezbollah—has continually called for a ceasefire that would fully align with a UN Resolution put in place after the 2006 conflict.
This UN resolution mandates that the area south of the Litani River must remain free from any weapons except those belonging to the Lebanese state. Both Lebanon and Israel have exchanged accusations regarding violations of the terms stipulated in the resolution.
The ongoing warfare has driven over one million individuals from their homes across Lebanon, creating a dire humanitarian situation. Moreover, continued Hezbollah rocket fire into northern Israel has caused tens of thousands to evacuate over the last year. Imran Riza, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon, detailed the alarming human toll inflicted by the conflict. He revealed that recent airstrikes reportedly claimed 23 lives yesterday, including seven children from a single village in Mount Lebanon.
He poignantly added, “On that same day, an airstrike in Tyre resulted in the deaths of five siblings from one family, all of whom had special needs,” highlighting the tragic and devastating consequences of this escalating conflict.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
