Beirut Shaken By Israeli Airstrikes As Conflict With Hezbollah Escalates

A series of big explosions struck Beirut after Israeli air attack targets Hezbollah facilities, causing major destruction and fueling the escalating turmoil. The attacks took place near Beirut International Airport, in the area controlled by Hezbollah, close to Dahieh. As the sun started to come up, thick smoke rose into the sky over the city, showing that there was ongoing intense fighting between Israel and Hezbollah for another day.

Lebanon’s health ministry announced that 37 individuals lost their lives and 151 were wounded due to Israeli attacks by air and land in the last 24 hours. At the same time, the Lebanese army verified the deaths of two soldiers in different incidents in the southern region of the country. These deaths highlighted a unique instance in which the Lebanese military was directly involved, despite typically remaining uninvolved in the conflict.

During a rescue operation with the Lebanese Red Cross in Taybeh village, the initial event took place resulting in the death of one soldier and the injury of another. The Red Cross also stated that four of its volunteers suffered minor injuries in the assault. Later on, a different Lebanese soldier lost his life after Israeli forces attacked a military outpost in Bint Jbeil, a recognized area of tension close to the border. The military reacted to the assault, a major change from its typical policy of not getting involved in the current war.

The Israeli military has not provided detailed information on these specific incidents but did acknowledge that its forces had eliminated Hezbollah fighters close to the border. Hezbollah stated that they stopped Israeli forces from advancing into border villages and kept firing rockets into northern Israel, launching more than 230 projectiles in one day. Israel’s air defenses successfully intercepted the majority, and there were no Israeli casualties reported.

Israel’s attacks are part of a larger campaign that started two weeks ago to destroy Hezbollah’s military presence in Lebanon. The IDF said that a building in Bint Jbeil, which had 15 Hezbollah fighters was also destroyed.

The unfortunate circumstances in Lebanon has led to the deaths of over one thousand three hundred people and the evacuation of over a million individuals. Many families from the southern suburbs of Beirut have moved to the capital city seeking refuge. Matthew Hollingworth, the country director of the World Food Programme in Lebanon, expressed the situation in Beirut as “horrific,” with smoke engulfing the city and streets crowded with displaced people.

The current offensive by Israel is a result of ongoing cross-border hostilities and the increasing danger from Hezbollah’s rockets and missiles, as part of a broader regional conflict. Israeli authorities maintain that their goal is to disarm the extremist organization and stop future incursions on their northern frontier. The international community still urges a halt to fighting, yet currently, both factions remain firmly positioned, showing no signs of violence cessation in the near future.