Israel Escalates Airstrikes in Syria and Lebanon Conflict

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Israel Escalates Airstrikes in Syria and Lebanon Conflict \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Israeli airstrikes struck Damascus and Qudsaya in Syria, killing 15 and wounding 16, while targeting Islamic Jihad positions. In Lebanon, Israeli strikes in Baalbek killed nine as military campaigns intensified. The broader Israel-Hamas conflict continues to fuel regional instability, claiming over 43,000 lives in Gaza, displacing millions in Lebanon, and drawing in actors like Hezbollah and Iran. UN peacekeeping forces remain in Lebanon despite mounting border violence.

Israel Expands Airstrikes in Syria and Lebanon: Quick Looks

Syrian Targets: Damascus’ Mazzeh neighborhood and Qudsaya suburb hit, killing 15 and damaging buildings.
Islamic Jihad Focus: Israel claimed significant disruptions to Islamic Jihad’s command operations.
Lebanon Airstrikes: Baalbek strikes killed nine, as Israeli military escalates attacks on Hezbollah.
Gaza Devastation: Over 43,000 Palestinians killed since October 7, mostly women and children.
Displacement Crisis: In Lebanon, 1.2 million people displaced amidst intense air raids.
UN Stance: UNIFIL peacekeepers remain active despite attacks and rising border tensions.
Iran’s Role: Tehran continues to support Syrian and Palestinian factions, intensifying regional conflict.

Deep Look

Israeli airstrikes rocked Syria’s capital, Damascus, and its northwestern suburb, Qudsaya, on Thursday, killing at least 15 people and wounding 16 others, according to Syria’s state news agency, SANA. The strikes destroyed several buildings, including a five-story residential structure in Mazzeh that was heavily damaged when a missile hit its basement. Israel’s military claimed responsibility, stating the attacks targeted Islamic Jihad command centers and infrastructure, inflicting significant damage on the group’s operations.

The timing of these airstrikes is notable, occurring just before a meeting in Damascus involving Ali Larijani, a senior adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Larijani was scheduled to meet Palestinian faction representatives at the Iranian Embassy in Mazzeh, underlining the intertwined nature of Iran’s involvement in supporting factions linked to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

The Israeli military justified the strikes as part of its broader campaign against Islamic Jihad, which it accuses of collaborating with Hamas in the October 7 attacks on southern Israel. These attacks killed over 1,200 people, primarily civilians, and saw 250 individuals abducted to Gaza. Israeli officials have vowed to target Islamic Jihad operatives “wherever necessary,” indicating a prolonged campaign across multiple theaters.

Spillover Into Lebanon

The conflict has expanded significantly into Lebanon, where Israeli airstrikes struck the city of Baalbek in the east, killing nine and wounding five. This escalation follows a pattern of intensified attacks across southern and eastern Lebanon, including Tyre, Nabatieh, and Beirut’s southern suburbs. In the densely populated Dahiyeh area of Beirut, sporadic airstrikes have prompted evacuation orders as Israeli forces target suspected Hezbollah command centers and weapons depots.

The Lebanese Health Ministry reported over 3,365 deaths and 14,344 injuries since hostilities escalated on October 8. The violence has displaced approximately 1.2 million people, creating a dire humanitarian crisis. Israeli military officials claim to have struck more than 300 targets in Lebanon in recent weeks, including 40 key sites in Dahiyeh alone.

Hezbollah’s involvement has exacerbated tensions, with the Iran-backed group firing rockets into Israel starting October 8 in solidarity with Hamas. Before the war’s intensification in late September, Hezbollah acknowledged losing nearly 500 fighters but has ceased releasing updated casualty figures.

Gaza’s Mounting Casualties and Destruction

In Gaza, the toll of Israel’s retaliation continues to climb. Health officials report over 43,000 deaths since the conflict began, with the majority being women and children. Widespread destruction has left large portions of Gaza in ruins, crippling infrastructure and worsening the humanitarian crisis. The United Nations and international aid organizations have struggled to provide relief as the fighting continues unabated.

The Israel-Hamas conflict has escalated into a broader regional war, with hostilities extending into neighboring countries and fueling tensions between Israel, Iran, and other regional powers.

Iran’s Pivotal Role

Iran has been a significant backer of both Syrian President Bashar Assad and Palestinian factions, including Islamic Jihad and Hamas. Tehran’s support for Assad since Syria’s civil war erupted in 2011 has included deploying military advisers and fighters, as well as providing billions of dollars in economic aid. Iran’s influence extends to Lebanon, where Hezbollah acts as a proxy force, challenging Israel’s military operations in the region.

Thursday’s airstrikes in Syria and Lebanon reflect the complex web of alliances driving the conflict. Israel’s targeting of Iranian-backed forces and infrastructure underscores the broader strategic dimensions of its campaign, which seeks to neutralize perceived threats on multiple fronts.

UNIFIL’s Role Amid Escalating Violence

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) remains in place despite escalating border violence. UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix emphasized during a visit to Lebanon that UNIFIL’s presence is critical for maintaining stability and preparing for a potential cessation of hostilities.

UNIFIL operates along the Blue Line boundary, monitoring the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. However, the mission has faced challenges, including deliberate destruction of observation equipment by Israeli forces and injuries to 13 peacekeepers during recent hostilities. Despite calls for UNIFIL to withdraw from border areas, Lacroix reaffirmed the mission’s commitment to its mandate under U.N. Security Council resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war.

Lacroix stressed that any reduction in UNIFIL’s presence would jeopardize its ability to mediate and monitor a future ceasefire. However, the resolution remains only partially implemented, leaving room for continued hostilities.

Broader Implications

The conflict’s regional spillover illustrates the fragile balance of power in the Middle East. The interplay between Israel, Hezbollah, Iran, and Palestinian factions has drawn international attention and heightened fears of a wider regional war. While Israel continues to strike militant targets in Syria and Lebanon, it faces mounting international criticism for the humanitarian toll in Gaza.

The escalating violence has displaced millions, devastated entire regions, and created a dire humanitarian crisis that demands urgent international intervention. However, diplomatic solutions remain elusive as both sides double down on military strategies.

The ongoing conflict underscores the urgent need for regional and global actors to address the root causes of instability and pave the way for long-term peace in the Middle East.