The recent escalation of violence between Israel and Lebanon has left the world in shock and mourning. On Tuesday, the Israeli military announced that it had killed a top Hezbollah commander as part of a two-day bombing campaign that has claimed the lives of over 560 people and displaced thousands in southern Lebanon. With both sides on the brink of all-out war, Hezbollah responded by launching rockets into Israel, causing families to seek refuge in bomb shelters.
The devastating impact of this conflict is evident as families in southern Lebanon flee to safer areas, such as Beirut and the city of Sidon. Schools have been turned into shelters, while others are forced to sleep in cars, parks, and even along the beach. The situation is dire, with many seeking to flee the country and causing a traffic jam at the border with Syria.
One such family is that of Issa Baydoun, who fled his village of Shihine when it was bombed. He and his extended family drove to Beirut, only to find the shelters full. They were forced to sleep in their vehicles on the side of the road. Baydoun, like many others, rejected Israel’s claim that they only targeted military sites, stating that they had to evacuate their homes because civilians were being targeted.
The outpouring of support and solidarity from the Lebanese people has been heartwarming. Well-wishers have offered their empty apartments and rooms to those in need through social media posts. Volunteers have set up a kitchen at an empty gas station in Beirut to cook for the displaced, reminiscent of the same spirit shown after the devastating port explosion in 2020.
Meanwhile, Israel has continued its airstrikes in Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah weapons and rocket launchers across southern Lebanon and the Bekaa region to the north. The Israeli military spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, stated that they are aiming to keep the operations as short as possible, but are prepared for it to take longer. The tension between the two sides has been steadily escalating for the last 11 months, with Hezbollah launching rockets and missiles into northern Israel in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. In response, Israel has carried out heavy airstrikes and targeted killings of Hezbollah commanders, while also threatening a wider operation.
The latest strike in Beirut on Tuesday killed Ibrahim Kobeisi, a top Hezbollah commander responsible for launching attacks towards Israel and planning the kidnapping and killing of three Israeli soldiers in 2000. This was just one in a string of assassinations and setbacks for Hezbollah, the strongest political and military actor in Lebanon and widely considered the top paramilitary force in the Arab world. However, the militant group has not yet responded to these claims made by Israel.
The strike in southern Beirut, where Hezbollah has a strong presence, resulted in the deaths of six people and the destruction of a six-story apartment building. This toll adds to the already staggering number of casualties in Lebanon, with the country’s Health Ministry reporting over 564 people killed and 1,800 wounded since Monday. The UN’s High Commissioner for Refugees in Lebanon also reported that one of their staffers and her young son were among those killed on Monday, while a cleaner under contract was killed in a strike in the south.
In retaliation, Hezbollah launched missiles at eight sites in Israel, including an explosives factory in Zichron Yaakov, 37 miles from the border. The Israeli military reported that 300 rockets were fired at Israel on Tuesday, injuring six soldiers and civilians.
The situation is dire, with neither side showing any signs of backing down. The exchange of fire on Monday resulted in the highest death toll in any single day in Lebanon since the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah. The following day, mourners in the village of Saksakieh carried 11 bodies through the streets, including those of four women, an infant, and a 7-year-old girl, all killed in Israel’s bombardment of the village. The bodies were draped in Hezbollah flags, a symbol of the strong support and loyalty the militant group has among the Lebanese people.
Israel has stated that it has no immediate plans for a ground invasion but is prepared for one, with thousands of troops stationed at the northern border. The military has also reported that Hezbollah has launched around 9,000 rockets, missiles, and drones into Israel since last October, with 250 launched on Monday alone. Israel has responded with airstrikes, targeting Hezbollah’s weapons and destroying several weapons concealed in private homes.
The toll of this ongoing conflict
