Israel’s military issued evacuation orders to residents in over 20 additional towns in southern Lebanon on Thursday as it continued its cross-border incursion and intensified strikes on Hezbollah targets in Beirut’s southern suburbs. This escalation brings the total number of towns subject to evacuation orders to 70, including the provincial capital, Nabatieh, signaling that further military action against Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group, may be imminent.
Hezbollah, in turn, launched attacks on Israel, targeting its “Sakhnin base” in Haifa Bay with a barrage of rockets. As Israeli forces push deeper into Lebanon, the potential for retaliation against Iran, Hezbollah’s primary backer, looms large. Iran recently launched its largest-ever assault on Israel, further heightening tensions in the region.
U.S. President Joe Biden, when asked whether he would support an Israeli strike on Iran’s oil facilities, responded, “We’re discussing that,” a comment that contributed to rising global oil prices. Despite this, Biden later clarified that “nothing is going to happen today” and expressed opposition to any Israeli strike on Iran’s nuclear sites.
At a meeting in Doha, Gulf Arab states attempted to reassure Iran of their neutrality amid the escalating violence, worried that the conflict between Tehran and Israel could endanger their own oil facilities. The intensifying conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, along with Iran’s involvement, has drawn global attention and raised concerns about broader regional instability.
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Israeli Military Operations Continue in Lebanon
Photo by 270862 via flickr https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/
Israel has been engaged in combat with Hamas in Gaza for nearly a year, but its focus has now shifted to southern Lebanon. On Tuesday, Israeli troops entered Lebanon following two weeks of heavy airstrikes, marking a significant escalation in the conflict. Israel’s stated goal is to secure the return of tens of thousands of Israeli citizens who were forced to evacuate from northern Israel due to Hezbollah’s bombardments during the Gaza war.
More than 1.2 million Lebanese residents have been displaced by Israeli attacks, with Lebanese authorities reporting nearly 2,000 fatalities since the conflict began, most of which have occurred in the past two weeks. The World Health Organization also reported that 28 healthcare workers were killed in Lebanon within the last 24 hours, further straining an already overwhelmed healthcare system. Additionally, the WHO has faced challenges delivering medical supplies to Lebanon due to flight restrictions.
Hezbollah has claimed to repel several Israeli incursions, and according to Lebanese security sources, Israeli troops have entered Lebanese territory multiple times, only to be pushed back without establishing a lasting presence. On Thursday, Hezbollah stated it had killed 17 Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon, though Israeli forces have not confirmed this figure. Israeli officials did acknowledge the death of one soldier on Thursday and reported eight fatalities the previous day, marking one of the deadliest days in the ongoing clashes with Hezbollah.
Beirut Targeted by Israeli Airstrikes
In the southern suburbs of Beirut, an area dominated by Hezbollah, heavy Israeli airstrikes caused several large explosions on Thursday. Smoke billowed across the neighborhood as Israeli forces targeted multiple Hezbollah sites, including weapons storage and intelligence facilities. Israeli airstrikes also reached central Beirut, with reports of a large blast near a building in the Bachoura district, just a few hundred meters from the Lebanese parliament.
The Lebanese health ministry reported nine fatalities from overnight strikes in central Beirut. A Hezbollah-linked civil defense group further confirmed that seven of its members were killed in the attack, including two medics. Israel also claimed to have struck a municipality building in the town of Bint Jbeil, killing 15 Hezbollah members and destroying weapons stockpiles.
Countries around the world have begun evacuating their citizens from Beirut, urging those remaining to leave as soon as possible amid growing fears of a broader conflict.
Iran’s Position and Warnings
Following Iran’s missile strike on Israel earlier this week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that Iran would face consequences. The U.S. government has pledged to support Israel in ensuring Iran is held accountable for its actions, with the potential for “severe consequences” should the conflict escalate further.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warned on Thursday that Tehran would respond decisively to any military attacks or violations of its “red lines,” asserting that any such actions would be met with a swift military response. Meanwhile, Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani has called for urgent ceasefire efforts, condemning what he termed as Israeli aggression.
The opening of the Lebanese front is tied to Hezbollah’s support of Hamas, with the militant group launching attacks on Israel a year ago in solidarity with the Palestinian cause. Iran’s other regional allies, including Yemen’s Houthis and armed groups in Iraq, have also joined in launching strikes in support of Hamas, further fueling the conflict.
The Escalation Threatens Regional Stability
The ongoing military confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah, combined with the increasing involvement of Iran and other regional actors, presents a significant risk of escalating into a broader conflict. With the displacement of over a million Lebanese civilians and rising casualties on both sides, international efforts to de-escalate the situation are urgently needed. Global leaders continue to monitor the situation closely, fearing that further strikes and retaliations could destabilize the Middle East and impact oil supplies, exacerbating tensions in an already volatile region.
