Lebanon: Israel’s largest air offensive on Hezbollah leaves nearly 500 dead; UN chief expresses grave concern
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned “complicated days” ahead, declaring, “Israel’s policy is clear: we do not wait for threats to materialize, we act preemptively.”
The clashes between Israel and Lebanon have escalated dramatically, with nearly 500 fatalities recorded across southern Lebanon. This marks Israel’s most extensive aerial assault on the Iran-backed Shia militant group Hezbollah since the outbreak of the Gaza war on October 7. According to Lebanon’s health ministry, approximately 1,650 people were wounded, with around 100 women and children among the casualties.
Amid continuous cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, plumes of smoke rose in Tyre, southern Lebanon, on September 23, 2024. Minor skirmishes and daily rocket launches from Hezbollah into Israel have become the norm along Israel’s northern border, with the militant group stating its actions are in solidarity with Palestinians enduring Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
Hostilities intensified in August when Hezbollah retaliated against Israel’s assassination of its top commander, Faud Shukr, in July. On Sunday, the group fired over 100 rockets at Israel, declaring an “open-ended battle of reckoning” after a series of coordinated explosions targeted Hezbollah members across Lebanon. Beirut has accused Israel, and specifically its intelligence agency Mossad, of orchestrating the attacks.
Israel has signaled that diplomatic efforts to halt Hezbollah’s aggression have faltered. The possibility of an all-out war looms, with officials indicating this may be the only way to secure the northern borders and allow Israeli citizens to return home.
Key updates on the Israel-Lebanon conflict:
- The Israeli military announced plans to expand its aerial assault campaign, targeting Hezbollah’s weapon depots in southern and eastern Lebanon. An Israeli defense official emphasized that the operation aims to diminish Hezbollah’s military capacity, noting that a ground invasion is not currently on the horizon.
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his forecast of complicated days ahead, emphasizing, “We do not wait for the threat, we stay ahead of it.”
- In a direct address to the Lebanese people, Netanyahu clarified that Israel’s campaign is not directed at them, urging civilians to evacuate immediately. “For years, Hezbollah has used you as human shields. They’ve stashed rockets in your homes and missiles in your garages, aimed squarely at our cities and civilians. To defend our people, we must dismantle these threats,” he stated.
- Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian warned of “irreversible consequences,” accusing Israel of provoking a region-wide conflict. “We do not wish to destabilize the Middle East, as the fallout would be irreparable,” he cautioned.
- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern over the escalating situation in Lebanon. He condemned both Israel’s bombing campaign and Hezbollah’s continued rocket attacks on Israel, calling for all efforts to focus on a diplomatic resolution.
- EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell voiced alarm over the growing risk of a regional war. “We are teetering on the brink of a full-scale conflict. More strikes, more destruction, more civilian casualties—it’s a grim trajectory,” Borrell remarked ahead of a UN summit.
- The United States indicated it would engage with its allies to explore concrete measures to prevent the conflict from spiraling further. President Biden stated that the U.S. is actively seeking to de-escalate tensions in Lebanon.
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