In a fresh spiral of violence, Hizbullah in Lebanon has fired a missile with the intention to take out Mossad headquarters situated near Tel Aviv, in retaliation for what it claims as Mossad’s role in the killings of its leaders and the sabotage of their communication equipment. Unsettling alarms echoed throughout Israel’s primary economic hub as their air defence forces intercepted a single missile detected crossing over from Lebanon, stated Israeli military.
Israel’s overnight offensive into Lebanon persisted, accompanied by a steadily climbing death toll resultant from the ongoing conflict. The death toll continued to grow in Lebanon by Tuesday with Israel affirming its commitment to maintain the air raids against Hizbullah. A rocket assault on Tel Aviv marked a significant intensification in the dispute between Hizbullah and Israel.
Meanwhile, Taoiseach met Mahmoud Abbas and promised to lend support for Palestine, a sentiment echoed by Tánaiste ensuring the safety of Irish troops stationed in Lebanon, despite the challenging operating conditions. Israel’s continual battle on two fronts has led to the death of 22 Palestinians in Gaza due to airstrikes, according to medical personnel.
The health ministry in Lebanon confirmed a chilling statistic – since Monday, at least 558 people have lost their lives, including vulnerable groups like children and women amounting to 50 and 94 fatalities respectively, and injuring 1,835 others. This conflict has forced an exodus of several thousands from their homes, pushing nearly 30,000 individuals into schools for refuge, as reported by the Lebanese government.
This escalating conflict will be the subject of an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council scheduled for Wednesday. This offence by Israel against Hizbullah, with solid backing from Iran, has stirred worries that the almost year-long discord between Israel and the militant group Hamas in Gaza might extend across the region.
Israel is now shifting its attention from Gaza to its northern border with Lebanon, in response to Hizbullah’s rocket assaults supporting Hamas. On Tuesday afternoon, Israel executed a “targeted” air strike in Dahiye, a stronghold of Hizbullah in southern Beirut – marking the third time that the Lebanese capital has been targeted in less than one week. Israel’s military later reported that they had assassinated Ibrahim Qubaisi, regarded as the top official managing Hizbullah’s missile and rocket operations. The Lebanese health ministry reported six fatalities and 15 casualties resulting from this air strike.
Hizbullah persists in its missile assaults across the Israel-Lebanon border, as stated on Wednesday, with a rocket aimed at the Mossad headquarters near Tel Aviv – allegedly instrumental in assassinating Hizbullah leaders and disrupting communication devices. Israel’s commercial hub, Tel Aviv, was placed on high alert as warning sirens blared. The missile, a solitary surface-to-surface weapon travelling from Lebanon, was intercepted by aerial defence systems, reported the Israeli military; no casualties were recorded in Israel.
Israel prioritises defending its northern frontier in the ongoing war and facilitating the homecoming of its people displaced due to strife. The Israeli military is keen on the resettlement of 60,000 Israelis in the north; however, these figures are dwarfed by the near double displacement figures of the Lebanese populace pre-existing this heightened confrontation.
Elias Maalouf, owner of Chateau Rayak winery in Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa Valley, stated over a telephonic conversation that his residence and business sustained substantial damage following a missile hit approximately 20m from his property on Monday. Maalouf and his aged father survived unscathed by seeking refuge in an undamaged corner of the house.
According to Maalouf, the ordinary-looking residence near his winery concealed a Hizbullah shelter, unbeknownst to him. Maalouf related the incessant bombing, happening every 30 minutes. He revealed the grim reality of the “many, many, many” casualties in his community, and that at one point, distressed individuals descended upon his property in search of missing victims.
The 43-year-old relocated his wife and three young children to a safer area in western Lebanon following media reports of potential threats to his region. Maalouf plans to carry on with his grape harvesting and pressing activities this week, while taking shelter in the ruins of his house during fresh bombardments.
“It’s the wine-making season, so I must stay,” stated Maalouf, comparing his situation to a militant’s duty to his role. “It’s my obligation to tend to my vineyards.”
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