On Tuesday, Israeli missiles targeted neighborhoods south of Beirut, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict. This attack occurred shortly after Israel issued evacuation warnings for an unusually high number of buildings—11 in total—located in the Dahiya, an area heavily influenced by the militant group Hezbollah.
As the missiles struck, plumes of thick, acrid smoke filled the skyline of the Lebanese capital, following a heavy barrage that rattled the area. The intensity of the strikes sent schoolchildren scrambling for safety, with the sound of explosions echoing miles away. Overhead, Israeli surveillance drones hovered, adding to the tension of the situation.
The Israeli military’s Arabic-language spokesman, Avichay Adraee, had earlier urged residents to evacuate buildings deemed close to “Hezbollah facilities or interests.” Once a vibrant and densely populated suburb, the Dahiya has seen most of its residents flee in recent months, leaving it quieter but still a significant strategic location.
As of Tuesday, the Lebanese and Israeli authorities had not provided immediate updates on casualties or the extent of the damage caused by the strikes. This attack followed a particularly aggressive wave of Israeli airstrikes on the previous day, during which towns in southern Lebanon and far northern regions were hit, resulting in at least 15 fatalities, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. Simultaneously, Hezbollah retaliated by launching approximately 90 projectiles into northern Israel, with some reportedly breaching the defenses of Israel’s Iron Dome system, leading to injuries among at least three individuals.
The recent exchanges of fire signify a dangerous escalation from both sides. Hezbollah’s rocket fire on Monday was notably larger than typical, while Israel’s evacuation orders encompassed more buildings than usual on Tuesday. Furthermore, on Monday night, Israeli forces executed one of their deepest strikes into northern Lebanon since the onset of the conflict, claiming eight lives according to Lebanese health officials.
In the town of Almat, located north of Beirut, destruction was evident following the airstrikes on Monday, illustrating the devastating impact of the conflict on civilian areas.
The intensifying violence appears to undermine concurrent diplomatic efforts aimed at establishing a temporary cease-fire to mitigate the ongoing clashes between Israel and Hezbollah. This confrontation was initially sparked last October when the Iran-backed militant group launched cross-border operations in support of Hamas in Gaza. Reports from Lebanese and United Nations officials indicate that the death toll in Lebanon has reached approximately 3,200, with over a fifth of the country’s population displaced.
Israel’s new foreign minister, Gideon Saar, mentioned on Monday that the United States had renewed its initiatives to facilitate diplomatic discussions, suggesting that “there is progress.” However, this optimistic outlook was quickly countered by his predecessor, Israel Katz, who recently took on the role of defense minister. In a social media post early Tuesday, Katz stated that he had conferred with Israeli military leaders, instructing them to maintain aggressive operations against Hezbollah.
“In Lebanon, there will be no cease-fire and there will be no respite,” he declared. “We will continue to hit Hezbollah with full force until our objectives in this war are realized. Israel will not consent to any arrangements that do not ensure its right to combat and prevent terrorism independently.”
