Israeli warplanes carried out their most intense strikes on southern Lebanon late Thursday, escalating the conflict with Hezbollah. This surge in hostilities follows earlier attacks in Lebanon, attributed to Israel, which killed 37 people and injured approximately 3,000. The attacks included the destruction of Hezbollah communication devices such as radios and pagers.
In response, Israel’s military launched over 52 airstrikes in southern Lebanon, focusing on rocket launchers prepared for immediate firing. The strikes, which lasted more than two hours, are the heaviest aerial bombardments in nearly a year of war between the two sides. Israel’s military confirmed the operation and vowed to continue targeting Hezbollah positions in the region.
Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, condemned the earlier attacks, describing them as crossing “all red lines” and potentially constituting war crimes. Nasrallah suggested the strikes could lead to a broader conflict, but stopped short of declaring all-out war.
As tensions mount, the U.S. and the UK have called for restraint. White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre expressed concern about a potential escalation, while Britain urged for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. Despite these diplomatic calls, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant affirmed Israel’s commitment to its military campaign, warning that Hezbollah would face increasing consequences for its actions.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened top ministers to discuss the situation. The Israeli military confirmed the deaths of two soldiers during combat on Thursday, adding to the toll of lives lost since hostilities began in October following Hamas’s attack on Israel. Both Israel and Hezbollah have been engaged in near-daily exchanges of fire along the Lebanon-Israel border.
Nasrallah, in a televised address, taunted Israeli forces, saying Hezbollah would welcome a ground incursion, calling it a “historic opportunity.” As the situation remains tense, thousands have been evacuated from border areas, and the threat of further escalation looms large despite international efforts to avoid full-scale war.
