Israel Lebanon conflict/ Hezbollah Israel war/ Israel Gaza conflict/ Israeli airstrikes/ Lebanon refugee crisis/ Palestinian casualties/ Newslooks/ BEIRUT/ LEBANON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Israel has expanded its airstrikes in Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah and Hamas strongholds as tens of thousands of refugees flee the conflict. Strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs and northern Lebanon killed several militants, including Hamas officials. Amid the fighting, Israel also continues its offensive in Gaza, where nearly 42,000 Palestinians have died. The situation remains dire, with evacuations and rising tensions across the region.
Israel Expands Bombardment in Lebanon as Tens of Thousands Flee Quick Looks
- Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon: Israel targets Hezbollah and Hamas, intensifying its bombardment of Beirut and northern regions.
- Thousands fleeing: Nearly 375,000 people have crossed from Lebanon into Syria, fleeing Israeli strikes.
- Hezbollah-Israel conflict: Hezbollah and Israel continue daily exchanges of fire, the worst since 2006.
- Casualties and destruction in Gaza: Almost 42,000 Palestinians have been killed as Israel issues more evacuation orders.
Israel Expands Strikes in Lebanon as Refugees Flee in Tens of Thousands
Deep Look
Israel intensified its military strikes in Lebanon on Saturday, launching airstrikes in Beirut’s southern suburbs and for the first time, targeting a Palestinian refugee camp in the north of the country. The escalation is part of Israel’s broader offensive aimed at dismantling Hezbollah and Hamas forces in Lebanon amid growing regional conflict.
In a particularly deadly strike, Israel’s military bombarded the Beddawi refugee camp near Tripoli, killing a senior Hamas military wing leader along with his wife and two children. Hamas later confirmed another commander’s death in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley. These attacks come as part of a series of escalations that have seen Israel target militants linked to both Hamas and Hezbollah in Lebanon since the beginning of the war in Gaza last year.
Israel claims it has neutralized several Hamas and Hezbollah leaders since the conflict began, and it has set its sights on pushing Hezbollah forces away from its shared border. At least 1,400 Lebanese, including civilians and paramedics, have been killed in the bombardments, with more than 1.2 million people forced to flee their homes since late September.
Hezbollah and Israel Continue to Exchange Fire
The violence between Hezbollah and Israel has escalated significantly since Hamas’ initial attack on Israel in October 2023. Hezbollah, which holds considerable military power in Lebanon, began firing rockets into Israel almost immediately after Hamas’ strike, framing it as a show of solidarity with the Palestinians. In response, Israel has launched daily airstrikes, with 90 projectiles reportedly fired from Lebanon into Israeli territory on Saturday alone. Most were intercepted, though some caused injuries in Israel’s northern Arab town of Deir al-Asad.
This back-and-forth between Israel and Hezbollah has resulted in one of the most severe escalations of violence between the two forces since their brief war in 2006. Israeli ground forces have also entered southern Lebanon in recent days, engaging in intense clashes that have claimed the lives of nine Israeli soldiers and about 250 Hezbollah fighters, according to Israeli sources.
Refugee Crisis and Civilian Displacement
Amid the worsening violence, tens of thousands of people in Lebanon are fleeing, including Palestinian refugees. The Lebanese government has reported that around 375,000 people have crossed into Syria to escape the bombardments. Many displaced families are now sheltering in makeshift camps along Beirut’s Corniche, an iconic seaside promenade, as the violence continues. “We don’t care if we die, but we don’t want to die at the hands of Netanyahu,” said Om Ali Mcheik, a displaced woman interviewed at the Corniche.
Israel claims its airstrikes are focused on Hezbollah infrastructure, targeting missile launchpads, weapons storage facilities, and tunnel networks used by Hezbollah to move fighters and weapons close to the Israeli border.
Conflict Spreads in Gaza
Meanwhile, the war in Gaza continues to claim lives. The Gaza Health Ministry reports that 42,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began, with civilians making up a significant portion of the casualties. On Saturday, Israeli airstrikes killed nine people in northern and central Gaza, including two children in Beit Hanoun and four others in the Nuseirat refugee camp, according to Gaza’s medical officials.
Israeli authorities have issued fresh evacuation orders for parts of central Gaza, urging residents in Nuseirat and Bureij refugee camps to move toward the Muwasi area, which has been designated a humanitarian zone. These evacuation orders come as Israel intensifies its push to root out Hamas fighters, who continue to operate in civilian areas, complicating ceasefire negotiations.
The Road Ahead
The fighting shows no signs of abating, with Iran calling for ceasefires in both Lebanon and Gaza, and regional tensions remaining at a boiling point. Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, has praised recent missile strikes on Israel, indicating that Iran could continue to support Hezbollah’s efforts.
As the conflict stretches into its second year, the humanitarian toll continues to rise, and the Middle East edges closer to a broader regional war. Israeli forces show no signs of backing down, while Hezbollah and Hamas maintain their retaliatory fire. The coming weeks will be critical in determining whether the fighting will escalate further or if diplomatic efforts can push for a ceasefire.
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