As in the Gaza war, the main victims of the escalating violence between Israel and the Lebanese Hezbollah are civilians. Hundreds are killed, almost 2,000 injured – and tens of thousands flee.
Despite the high number of civilian casualties, Israel has continued its massive air strikes on the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon. According to the Lebanese authorities, at least 558 people have been killed since Monday, including 50 children, 94 women and 4 paramedics. In addition, 1,835 people have been injured.
Chaos and panic in Lebanon
Tens of thousands of people were fleeing north, mainly from southern Lebanon. Roads were reportedly blocked, hospitals overcrowded and people were in panic. Lebanon is impoverished and has itself taken in around 1.5 million refugees from the civil war-torn country of Syria since 2011. They were already living in very precarious conditions.
Israel again calls on people to flee
Meanwhile, as on the previous day, Israel called on people in southern Lebanon to flee if they lived near Hezbollah rocket launch sites or weapons depots. The Israeli Air Force again bombed Hezbollah positions and weapons depots, which, according to Israel, are often deliberately located in residential areas.
Israel says it wants to weaken Hezbollah, an ally of Iran, to the point where it can no longer bombard northern Israel on a daily basis, as it has done for almost a year. At least 60,000 Israelis have had to flee to other parts of the country as a result.
Hezbollah says it wants to support Hamas
Hezbollah says it wants to support Hamas in the Gaza Strip with its attacks, which began last October. Terrorists from Hamas and other extremist groups killed more than 1,200 people in Israel on October 7, 2023 and took about 250 others hostage in the Gaza Strip.
The unprecedented massacre sparked the Gaza War, in which, according to the Hamas-controlled health authority, more than 40,000 people have been killed and more than 90,000 injured in the coastal strip, with no distinction being made between fighters and civilians. Despite international mediation efforts, both sides have not yet been able to agree on a ceasefire or the release of Israeli hostages still held in the Gaza Strip.
Israel’s military chief: No break for Hezbollah
Israel’s Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi announced a further escalation of the massive attacks in the northern neighbouring country. According to military sources, Halevi said at a meeting: “We must not give Hezbollah a break. We must continue with all our strength.” Israel wants to get the militia to withdraw behind the Litani River, 30 kilometres from the border – as stipulated in UN Resolution 1701.
Israel claims to have destroyed tens of thousands of rockets
According to Defense Minister Joav Galant, tens of thousands of Hezbollah rockets were destroyed in the attacks. Before the attacks began on October 8, the militia’s arsenal was estimated at 150,000 rockets, drones and cruise missiles.
At least six people were killed in a new Israeli air strike in a suburb of the Lebanese capital Beirut, the Lebanese Health Ministry said.
Israel’s military announced, without giving any further details, that it had carried out a “targeted attack” in Beirut. It was said to have been aimed at the head of the Hezbollah militia’s rocket unit, several Israeli media reported, citing defense officials. It was initially unclear whether he was injured or killed.
Guterres warns of “second Gaza”
UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned against further escalation. “The Lebanese people, the Israeli people and people around the world cannot afford for Lebanon to become a second Gaza,” he said in New York. Guterres has repeatedly criticized Israel’s war in Gaza.
Emergency meeting of the UN Security Council
Because of the escalation, France requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council for this week. However, the most powerful body of the United Nations is only able to act to a limited extent due to political conflicts. The Middle East conflict is also likely to play an important role in the general debate of the UN General Assembly, which is scheduled to last several days.
More than 100,000 displaced people in Lebanon
According to the UN refugee agency UNHCR, tens of thousands of people have been forced to flee as a result of Israeli attacks since Monday. Since the Palestinian terrorist attacks in Israel on October 7, 2023 and the subsequent Israeli military strikes in the Gaza Strip, 102,000 people have been displaced due to increasingly frequent attacks in southern Lebanon, according to UNHCR.
Syrian and Palestinian refugees in Lebanon also affected
The situation in Lebanon is also becoming increasingly desperate for Syrian and Palestinian refugees. International donors have already cut back their support, the Norwegian Refugee Council aid organization said. According to UN figures, the small Mediterranean country has taken in more refugees per capita and in relation to its size than any other country in the world.
Due to the financial and economic crisis, they have only limited access to food, medical care, education and other basic services. Many refugees have no other place of refuge, such as with relatives, or a car to escape in. Hundreds have therefore fled to Syria in their desperation. “They are mainly Lebanese with Syrian wives and others with relatives in Syria,” a border police officer told the German Press Agency.
Israel’s Homeland Security: Citizens must be on standby nationwide
According to the Homeland Security Service, Israeli citizens must prepare for further possible counterattacks by Hezbollah across the country. A spokesman told the news site “ynet” that people should be prepared to seek shelter if necessary. If sirens sounded in the greater Tel Aviv area, people would only have a minute and a half to do so.
Hezbollah speaks of counterattacks on Israel
Hezbollah, which acts in Lebanon practically like a state within a state, responded with heavy rocket attacks on Israeli territory. It said it had attacked at least six times since the morning with Fadi-1 and Fadi-2 rockets. Among other things, it attacked the Megiddo military airport west of Afula and again the Ramat David military base near the coastal city of Haifa. There were no reports of casualties at first.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
