Israel-Lebanon Clashes: Nearly 500 Killed in Southern Lebanon Amid Intensified Israeli Airstrikes on Hezbollah
Nearly 500 people have been killed across southern Lebanon after Israel launched its largest aerial offensive against the Iran-backed Shiite militant group Hezbollah since the war in Gaza began on October 7. According to Lebanon’s health ministry, around 1,650 people have been wounded, including about 100 women and children among the fatalities.
Skirmishes along Israel’s northern border with Lebanon had become a daily occurrence as Hezbollah continued to fire hundreds of rockets into Israel, asserting its actions were in solidarity with Palestinians enduring Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
Tensions escalated in August after Hezbollah launched rockets and drones in response to the killing of its senior commander Faud Shukr by Israel in July. On Sunday, the militant group fired over 100 rockets, declaring an “open-ended battle of reckoning” with Israel after a series of explosions targeted pagers and radios across Lebanon. Lebanon blamed Israel and its spy agency Mossad for the attacks, which were aimed at Hezbollah members.
Israel has stated that diplomatic efforts to halt Hezbollah’s attacks are failing, suggesting that a full-scale war may be the only way to stop assaults on its northern border and allow citizens to return to their homes.
Latest Updates on the Israel-Lebanon Conflict:
- The Israeli military has announced plans to intensify its aerial campaign targeting Hezbollah’s weapon sites in southern and eastern Lebanon. An Israeli official emphasized that the focus is on weakening Hezbollah’s military capabilities, indicating that a ground invasion is not imminent.
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned of “complicated days” ahead, stating, “I want to clarify Israel’s policy: we do not wait for the threat, we stay ahead of it.”
- In a video address to the Lebanese people, Netanyahu reassured them that Israel’s campaign is not aimed at civilians, urging them to “get out of harm’s way now.” He added, “For years, Hezbollah has used you as human shields, placing rockets in your homes and missiles in your garages aimed directly at our cities. To protect our people, we must neutralize those weapons.”
- Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian cautioned that the conflict could have “irreversible consequences,” accusing Israel of trying to drag the entire Middle East into a full-scale war. “We do not seek instability in the region, as the consequences would be catastrophic,” he said.
- United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres expressed deep concern over the escalating violence in Lebanon, condemning both Israel’s bombing campaign and Hezbollah’s continued strikes into Israel. “All efforts must be focused on finding a diplomatic solution,” Guterres urged.
- EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell warned that the situation risks plunging the region into an “all-out war.” “We are on the brink of a full-fledged conflict. More military strikes, more destruction, more victims—this is what we are witnessing,” Borrell said ahead of a UN summit.
