Israel has escalated tensions with Lebanon by launching a series of airstrikes against Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) claim to have hit approximately 10 Hezbollah targets in seven different areas, including weapons depots, military infrastructure, and rocket launchers. This military operation comes in response to a deadly rocket attack on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights on Saturday, which killed 12 children and teenagers aged between 10 and 16.The Israeli strikes resulted in the death of one Hezbollah fighter, identified as 29-year-old Hasan Hüseyin Malik. This brings the total number of Hezbollah members killed in Israeli attacks along the southern Lebanese border to 387 since the conflict began. Hezbollah, however, denies responsibility for the initial rocket attack on the Golan Heights.The situation has raised fears of a wider conflict in the region. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated that he does not believe a fight between Hezbollah and Israel is inevitable, despite concerns about potential escalation. The US has been leading diplomatic efforts to deter Israel from striking Lebanon’s capital Beirut or major civil infrastructure in response to the attack.The ongoing tensions have resulted in almost daily cross-border exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and the Israeli army since October. According to Israeli authorities, 22 soldiers and 24 civilians have been killed by Hezbollah fire, while at least 527 people have been killed in Lebanon, including 104 civilians.As the situation continues to develop, both sides appear to be preparing for potential further escalation. A Hezbollah official stated that the organization has begun moving precision-guided missiles to the front lines, while maintaining that they will not initiate a war but will fight ‘without limits’ if attacked.
Key points
- Israel launched airstrikes on approximately 10 Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon, killing one fighter.
- The strikes were in response to a rocket attack on the Golan Heights that killed 12 children and teenagers.
- Hezbollah denies responsibility for the initial attack but threatens retaliation if Israel escalates further.
- US diplomatic efforts are underway to prevent further escalation of the conflict.
Contradictions👾While most sources report Israel targeting around 10 Hezbollah sites, the exact number and nature of the targets vary slightly between reports.
👾There are conflicting reports about the extent of casualties and damage caused by the Israeli strikes, with some sources providing more detailed information than others.
