Israeli Airstrikes Across Lebanon: 27 Dead, Including Mayor \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon have killed at least 27 people, including a city mayor, in the last 24 hours. Strikes targeted key locations, including Qana and Nabatiyeh, where Israel claims Hezbollah leaders were present. Lebanese officials accuse Israel of targeting civilian infrastructure, while escalating tensions continue to drive mass displacements.
Israel Intensifies Strikes on Lebanon: Quick Looks
- Widespread Airstrikes and Casualties: Israeli airstrikes over the past day have killed at least 27 people across Lebanon, with major strikes reported in Qana and Nabatiyeh. Lebanese officials say Israel targeted a meeting coordinating relief efforts.
- Hezbollah Commanders Targeted: Israel claims the strikes in Qana aimed at killing Jalal Mustafa Hariri, a Hezbollah commander. Previous conflicts have also left Qana scarred, with significant civilian casualties during strikes in 1996 and 2006.
- Casualties Include City Mayor: Among the dead was Ahmad Kahil, the mayor of Nabatiyeh, killed during a strike that targeted a local coordination meeting, drawing criticism from Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister, who accused Israel of deliberate targeting.
- Escalating Conflict: The conflict along the Israel-Lebanon border has intensified, with Hezbollah launching more than 90 projectiles into Israel on Wednesday alone, resulting in civilian injuries. Israeli forces also resumed strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs.
- Mass Displacement and International Concern: Over 1.2 million people in Lebanon have been displaced, with 2,377 reported dead since last October. The situation continues to draw international concern over the humanitarian impact on civilians.
Deep Look
Israeli Airstrikes Pound Lebanon: 27 Dead Amid Escalating Conflict
The situation in Lebanon has worsened as Israeli airstrikes targeted multiple areas across the country, resulting in at least 27 fatalities over the past 24 hours, Lebanese officials reported on Wednesday. The strikes have primarily focused on regions in southern Lebanon, including the town of Qana and the city of Nabatiyeh, as well as renewed attacks on southern Beirut. This comes amid ongoing cross-border hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, which have sharply escalated over recent weeks.
Qana Suffers Yet Again
The town of Qana, already marked by tragic history from previous conflicts, was hit hard once more. Israel’s military stated that the strike targeted Jalal Mustafa Hariri, a Hezbollah commander. Photos and video footage from the Associated Press showed the devastation — buildings reduced to rubble and rescue workers desperately searching for survivors. At least 15 people were killed in this particular strike.
Mayor Mohammed Krasht lamented, “Qana always gets its share,” a grim reminder of the town’s past, which includes deadly bombardments in 1996 and 2006 that claimed the lives of scores of civilians, including women and children. The Israeli military has often argued that strikes in these areas were intended to target Hezbollah military positions, but civilian casualties have been a tragic and repeated consequence.
Strike on Relief Coordination Meeting Kills Mayor
In another incident that sparked outrage, Israeli strikes hit Nabatiyeh, a southern city, killing six people, including Mayor Ahmad Kahil. Lebanese officials said the strikes targeted a municipal council meeting where local leaders were organizing relief efforts for those affected by ongoing airstrikes. Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, condemned the attack, stating, “What solution can be hoped for in light of this reality?” He criticized Israel for intentionally targeting gatherings meant to aid civilians.
Israeli Military Operations and Hezbollah’s Response
Israel’s military confirmed that the strikes were part of a broader campaign aimed at Hezbollah command centers and weapons facilities, many of which, they claim, are embedded within civilian areas. According to the Israeli Defense Ministry, intelligence gathered from captured Hezbollah fighters has weakened the group’s operational capabilities.
The Israeli military has also reported increased rocket fire from Hezbollah, with more than 90 projectiles launched into Israeli territory on Wednesday. This has resulted in injuries to four Israeli civilians. As the conflict drags on, both sides continue to engage in fierce retaliatory attacks, raising concerns about a prolonged and devastating regional war.
Destruction in Beirut and Renewed Airstrikes
Israel also resumed airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs, an area known to be a stronghold for Hezbollah. After a six-day pause, these strikes targeted what Israel claims was an arms depot located beneath an apartment complex. Despite warning residents to evacuate, the attack has intensified fears among civilians living in the densely populated area.
Lebanese officials, including those from the United Nations, have expressed concern over civilian safety. “This attack follows other incidents in which civilians and civilian infrastructure have been targeted across Lebanon,” stated Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon.
Rising Death Toll and Displacement
The Lebanese Health Ministry has reported that since the conflict escalated last October, over 2,377 people have been killed in Lebanon, with more than three-quarters of the deaths occurring in the past month alone. The ongoing airstrikes have also led to the mass displacement of over 1.2 million people, including 400,000 children, forcing many to seek refuge in schools, community centers, and other makeshift shelters.
The crisis has also affected Israel, where Hezbollah’s intensified rocket attacks have forced around 60,000 Israelis to flee from northern border areas. Nearly 60 people in Israel have died due to the hostilities, with about half of the casualties being soldiers.
International Response and Diplomatic Efforts
The situation has drawn reactions from global leaders and international bodies, urging for de-escalation. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller expressed concerns about civilian safety, stating, “We do not want to see entire villages destroyed,” and called on Israel to exercise caution in its strikes to protect non-combatants and infrastructure.
Earlier promises by the United States to Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati that Israel would restrain its strikes on Beirut have been overshadowed by renewed attacks. Mikati condemned what he called the “deliberate silence” of the international community regarding civilian casualties caused by Israeli strikes.
Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza Compounds the Regional Conflict
The conflict is not confined to Lebanon. Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza have resulted in widespread destruction and displacement. The latest reports from Gaza indicate that over 350 bodies have been recovered following Israel’s major offensive in the Jabaliya refugee camp, according to Dr. Mounir al-Boursh, director-general of Gaza’s Health Ministry. “Entire families have disappeared,” he said, highlighting the catastrophic loss of life and the difficulties rescue teams face in reaching survivors due to ongoing airstrikes.
Outlook Remains Grim as Conflict Escalates
Despite multiple attempts at brokering a ceasefire, including negotiations involving the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, hopes for an immediate resolution appear dim. Hezbollah has vowed to continue its rocket attacks until there is a ceasefire in Gaza, a condition that seems increasingly unlikely given the recent stall in diplomatic efforts.
As both sides ramp up their offensives, the humanitarian crisis deepens. Displaced families, wrecked infrastructure, and an ever-mounting death toll paint a bleak picture for the region, where peace remains elusive, and civilians continue to bear the brunt of the conflict.
