The escalation of the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has reached a new peak of intensity. Over the past 24 hours, the Israeli air force has struck “dozens of Hezbollah targets in several regions of southern Lebanon,” while artillery continued to bombard strategic areas such as Ayta al-Shab and Ramyeh. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that Israeli Air Force (IAF) fighters destroyed approximately 1,600 facilities and infrastructure of the Iranian-backed Shiite movement, a significant increase from the 1,300 targets previously announced.
The strikes targeted Hezbollah rocket launchers, command centers and other vital military infrastructure, in what appears to be a concerted effort to weaken the group’s offensive capabilities. The operations were coordinated by Israel’s Northern Command, with attacks targeting southern Lebanon and the northeastern Bekaa Valley, a known Hezbollah stronghold.
The human toll of the latest Israeli operations is devastating. According to Lebanese and international sources, yesterday was the bloodiest day for Lebanon since the end of the civil war (1975-1990), with at least 492 deaths, including 35 children and 58 women. The wounded exceed 1,600, many of whom were rescued from the rubble of homes and structures hit.
Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, which have long characterized the volatile Lebanese-Israeli border, have reached a new level of severity, fueling fears of a full-scale conflict in the region. The Hezbollah movement, for its part, has vowed revenge for the civilians killed, while the international community calls for an immediate de-escalation to prevent further tragedies.