Escalating Tensions: Israel Strikes Southern Beirut
In a significant escalation of hostilities, Israel has launched airstrikes on southern Beirut for the first time in six days, despite assurances from Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, claiming that the United States had provided guarantees that Israel would limit its attacks on the Lebanese capital. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) maintain that these strikes are essential to counter the activities of Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group with a considerable presence in the southern neighborhoods of the city, particularly in an area known as Daniyeh.
The IDF issued an evacuation warning via social media platform X, indicating that a residential building in the Haret Hreik neighborhood, which they allege is situated above an arms warehouse, was being targeted. Tragically, hours later, reports emerged that at least 15 individuals had lost their lives in the southern Lebanese town of Qana, a location notorious for civilian casualties during previous confrontations between Israel and Hezbollah. Lebanon’s Civil Defence reported that the bodies were recovered from the rubble, as rescue operations continued amidst the destruction.
Related
- US threatens to cut military aid to Israel over Gaza humanitarian crisis
- Borrell warns of ‘disastrous consequences’ for refugees if Israeli Knesset bans UNRWA
According to Lebanon’s Health Ministry, approximately 2,300 people have died as a result of Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon since October of last year, with over three-quarters of these casualties occurring in the past month alone. Israel’s military operations intensified after targeted air assaults aimed at Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and several senior members of the group earlier this month. The IDF has also been conducting ground operations along the border and faces accusations of intentionally targeting UN peacekeeping forces in the region, claims that the IDF has firmly rejected.
No Signs of a Ceasefire
Israel argues that its military actions are crucial for defeating Hezbollah, which has been launching rockets into Israeli territory in a display of solidarity with the Palestinian militant group Hamas, with whom Israel has been engaged in a year-long conflict in the Gaza Strip. Hezbollah has declared that it will persist in its attacks until a ceasefire is established in Gaza. In a televised address on Tuesday, acting Hezbollah leader Sheikh Naim Kassem emphasized the group’s commitment to “inflicting harm on the enemy” and asserted their determination to “defeat our enemies and drive them out of our lands,” offering little optimism for the possibility of negotiating a ceasefire.
Israel has similarly pledged to continue its operations in Lebanon until safety is restored for its citizens living near the border.
Related
- Israeli attacks on UNIFIL are ‘completely unacceptable,’ Borrell says echoing EU ire
- US threatens to cut military aid to Israel over Gaza humanitarian crisis
While many nations, including the United States, have reiterated their baseline support for Israel’s military campaign, Israel has faced increasing international scrutiny regarding its military tactics. On Tuesday, French President Emmanuel Macron underscored the “absolute necessity of a ceasefire without further delay in Lebanon” and urged Israel to cease its bombardment of the country. In a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Macron characterized the attacks as “unjustifiable.” Following their discussion, Netanyahu expressed his strong opposition to any unilateral ceasefire, insisting that he would not agree to any arrangement that failed to ensure the security of residents in northern Israel or that did not prevent Hezbollah from rearming and regrouping.
Even the United States has begun to signal that there are limits to its endorsement of Israeli actions in Lebanon. During a recent press briefing, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller indicated that the scope and scale of the bombing campaign witnessed in Beirut over the past few weeks had raised significant concerns in Washington, stating, “There are specific strikes that it would be appropriate for Israel to carry out, but when it comes to the scope and nature of the bombing campaign that we saw in Beirut over the past few weeks, it’s something that we made clear to the Government of Israel we had concerns with and we are opposed to.”