Israel has launched a heavy series of airstrikes on Southern Lebanon and the Bekaa region, resulting in the death of 274 individuals and the injury of over 1000 in the span of a few hours. In its latest raid on Lebanon, Israel launched an airstrike on Beirut’s southern suburb in an attempt to assassinate the head of the southern front within Hezbollah, Ali Karaki.
This marks the second assassination Israel committed within Hezbollah ranks in the past week, the first of which targeted and killed Ibrahim Akil, head of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan unit. Both attacks took place in highly dense areas, leading to the deaths of dozens of civilians
Lebanon’s caretaker Health Minister, Firas Abiad, said that he has asked hospitals to stop taking regular cases to accommodate the number of those wounded in the south, while residents of the south have fled the region in masses since the onset of aggressions in the area.
Various sources have reported that this is the single deadliest day in Lebanon since October 2023 – many even saying that this is the single deadliest day since the end of the Civil War, over three decades ago.
Plans to Annihilate Lebanon
Israeli Prime Miniter Benjamin Netanyahu has stated his government’s intent on “changing the balance of power in the north” as scope of Israel’s airstrikes have broadened, reaching as far as Jbeil district in Northern Lebanon.
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said Israel would continue to strike Lebanon “until we achieve our goal to return the northern residents safely to their homes.”
This comes after Israeli Minister of Education, Yoav Kisch, claimed that there is no difference between Hezbollah and Lebanon, stating that the country will be “annihilated” in an interview.
Lebanon’s Emergency Measures
The Lebanese interior minister has said that schools across Lebanon have opened their doors to welcome the displaced, in areas such as Beirut, Tripoli, and eastern and southern Lebanon.
Lebanese residents have also launched online calls to accommodate the displaced, offering up rooms, houses and shelters for free of charge for all those in need, and sharing numbers and focal points of contact for shelter.
Hezbollah’s Response
In response to Israel’s attacks in Lebanon today, Hezbollah has targeted military bases within the vicinity of Haifa. This includes the Ein Zeitim base, the Rafael Military Industrial Complex, the Ramat David Airbase of the Israeli Air Force and warehouses at the Nimra Base.