The Lebanese health department reported the deaths of not less than 180 individuals, including children, women, and medical staff, with over 700 others suffering injuries due to the Israeli attack on south Lebanon on Monday. It marked the deadliest day since Israel-Hizbullah conflict began in October. With the mounting Israeli aggression, the health department has instructed hospitals in the country’s southern and eastern regions to halt all non-urgent surgical procedures to accommodate the injured.
Furthermore, the Israeli armed forces professed that they had targeted a minimum of 300 Hizbullah bases located in Lebanon. Meanwhile, Hizbullah claimed to have retaliated by launching rockets at Israeli military establishments in the northern part of Israel, responding to the Israeli strikes on the south and Bekaa regions. The Israeli defence rebutted this, stating that a significant number of at least 35 missiles launched from Lebanon were intercepted.
The Israeli military has cautioned civilians in Lebanon to evacuate from localities where Hizbullah has reportedly stashed weapons. The continued confrontation between Israel and the militia over the past 11 months is further hinting at an imminent war. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, a spokesman for the Israeli military, relayed this message after Israel initiated another series of powerful strikes across Lebanon, hinting at further likely strikes.
He released a statement online indicating that Hizbullah has, over the years, concealed weapons such as cruise missiles in residences and other structures across southern Lebanon. He warned the residents to keep clear from these areas. The military also revealed a map of 17 towns and villages in southern Lebanon without specifying the targets.
In response to queries regarding a potential Israeli terrestrial invasion of Lebanon, Mr Hagari assured that necessary measures would be taken to guarantee the safe return of evacuated Israeli residents in the north to their homes.
In the latest efforts by Israel to exert pressure on Hizbullah, evacuation orders were issued. This follows hidden operations conducted the week before which targeted Hizbullah’s communication network, as well as a rare hit in Beirut on Friday that knocked out a structure where top-ranking Hizbullah officials were meeting.
The renewed attacks on Monday signified the unsuccessful attempts to compel Hizbullah to retreat. Over the past weekend, Hizbullah responded by launching a missile salvo on Sunday morning that struck locations approximately 30 miles south of Lebanon’s border with Israel. This marked their most penetrating strikes since the war erupted in October.
Hizbullah started their offence against Israeli forces shortly after Hamas assaulted Israel on October 7th, in an endeavour to demonstrate solidarity with their Palestinian cohorts whilst abstaining from igniting a full-scale conflict. Israel reacted with missiles and artillery counterattacks, resulting in frequent exchanges of rockets and missiles, the displacement of around 150,000 individuals from both sides of the border, and substantial destruction in the border regions.
Hizbullah has been wary of escalating the conflict into unrestricted ground warfare, however, they have stated they will continue their missile strikes until a ceasefire is achieved in the Gaza Strip. With a cessation of hostilities in Gaza appearing remote, Israel is venturing into more daring attacks to compel Hizbullah to disengage its conflict from Hamas.
On Thursday, Hizbullah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, vowed in a speech to persevere with the fight as long as the conflict in Gaza rages on. – The New York Times and Reuters.