The one year mark of Israel-Hamas war has prompted a renewed cycle of violence, with Israel conducting extensive airstrikes in southern Lebanon and retaliating against Hamas in Gaza.
As tensions continue to escalate in the Middle East, Israel has intensified its military operations on multiple fronts and Hamas retaliating in response. With casualties mounting on both sides and international repercussions looming, the region stands on the brink of a broader conflict, raising alarms about the potential for an all-out war involving Iranian-backed groups and escalating military engagements.
Since the start of the conflict, Lebanon has reported over 2,083 deaths, with the recent escalation causing heavy casualties among civilians. The toll in Gaza continues to rise, with over 41,909 Palestinians, primarily civilians, reportedly killed since the onset of the war.
"Free Your Country...": Netanyahu's Message To Lebanon
In a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has appealed to the Lebanese people to work towards "freeing their country from terrorists like Hezbollah".
In his speech, Netanyahu stated that Lebanon was once called the "pearl of the Middle East" but now has been reduced to a place of "chaos and war".
"We've degraded Hezbollah's capabilities, took out thousands of terrorists including Nasrallah, Nasrallah's replacement and the replacement of his replacement," said Netanyahu, confirming Israel's role in Nasrallah's killing.
"Today Hezbollah is weaker than it has been in many many years. It is now your choice - you can take back your country and return to peace and prosperity," Netanyahu added, appealing to the Lebanese people.
The Israeli military on Tuesday announced that a reserve division has started limited operations against Hezbollah in southwestern Lebanon, in an apparent expansion of its ground incursion. The 146th Division is the first reserve unit to cross into Lebanon since ground operations began just inside the border last week.
This follows a warning issued by the Israeli military for residents to evacuate from more than a dozen towns and villages in southwestern Lebanon, including Naqoura, which is home to UN peacekeepers.
Israel claims that its operations aim to end a year of Hezbollah rocket attacks, allowing tens of thousands of its citizens to return to their homes in the north. In response, Hezbollah has vowed to continue its attacks until a cease-fire is reached in Gaza.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced that Suhail Hussein Husseini, the head of Hezbollah's logistical headquarters was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Beirut on Tuesday. According to IDF, he was also a member of the Jihad Council, the top military body of Hezbollah.
“Husseini played a crucial role in weapon transfers between Iran and Hezbollah and was responsible for distributing the advanced weaponry among Hezbollah’s units, overseeing both the transportation and allocation of these arms,” the IDF said.
Israeli forces conducted extensive bombardments on Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon, targeting areas such as Dahiya, a densely populated neighborhood near Beirut. The skyline was thick with smoke as the Israeli military continued to order evacuations in the region, warning residents to leave for their safety. “We are taking extensive measures to ensure the security of our state and its citizens,” an Israeli military spokesperson stated.
In response, Hamas launched a rocket attack on Tel Aviv, referring to it as a strike against “the depths of the occupation.” Although the damage was minimal, Abu Obeida, the military spokesman for Hamas’s Al-Qassam Brigades, vowed that the group would persist in what he called “a long, painful and extremely costly war of attrition” for Israel.
Despite Israel intercepting most rockets launched from Lebanon, a barrage on Sunday evening saw five projectiles penetrate defenses, injuring at least two people, including a 13-year-old boy.
During a video statement commemorating the October 7 attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized the importance of the ongoing military operations. “We remember our dead and our hostages. We are obligated to bring them back,” he said.
However, another hostage died on the same day. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum revealed that Idan Shtivi, who was abducted during the initial Hamas attack, had died, intensifying calls for action from the Israeli government.
The Israeli military has called for evacuations in northern Gaza, stating that Hamas’s main fighting units have been largely dismantled. However, operations continue to prevent any resurgence of the group’s military capabilities. In light of the rising tensions, the Israeli army has declared several towns in northwest Israel closed to the public as a precautionary measure against the ongoing rocket fire from Hezbollah.
As both sides prepare for further escalation, the specter of a larger regional conflict looms, with devastating implications for civilians caught in the crossfire.
The conflict has not remained confined to Israel and Gaza. Iranian-backed groups, including Hezbollah and the Houthi militia from Yemen, have escalated their attacks in solidarity with Hamas. The Houthis claimed responsibility for a missile strike on central Israel, which was intercepted by Israeli defenses. This escalation raises fears of a wider regional conflict, particularly as Iran has reportedly fired missiles at Israel in retaliation for Israeli actions against its proxy leaders.
In Lebanon, the situation remains dire, with the Lebanese Ministry of Health reporting over 2,083 deaths and nearly 10,000 wounded since the onset of hostilities last October. The humanitarian crisis continues to worsen, with many areas devastated by ongoing military actions.
The Biden administration announced new sanctions aimed at crippling Hamas’s fundraising network, targeting a charity, a Hamas-controlled financial institution, and several individuals connected to the organization in Europe.
Emirates, Dubai’s flagship airline, has banned pagers and walkie-talkies from flights following recent Israeli attacks on such communication devices used by Hezbollah.