As dawn broke over Beirut on Friday, plumes of smoke rose ominously over the city, marking yet another night of relentless Israeli air strikes targeting Hezbollah positions. The explosions, which shook the area near Beirut’s international airport, highlighted the escalating conflict and the precarious situation in Lebanon‘s capital.
In the last 24 hours alone, the Lebanese public health ministry reported that 37 people had lost their lives due to the combined effects of Israeli ground and air attacks, with 151 others wounded. These strikes have not only devastated civilian areas but also led to a tragic loss of life within the Lebanese army. Two soldiers were killed in separate incidents on Thursday, marking a grim milestone on the third day of Israel’s military invasion aimed at curtailing Hezbollah’s influence.
The strikes targeted regions adjacent to Dahieh, a known stronghold of Hezbollah, though the precise objectives of the Israeli Air Force remain ambiguous. While the Israeli military has not officially commented on the attacks, it has acknowledged the killing of Hezbollah fighters near the border, asserting that its operations are focused on neutralizing threats to Israeli security.
The Lebanese army’s engagement in the conflict has been notably restrained, yet two recent incidents demonstrated a rare escalation. One soldier was killed during a humanitarian operation alongside the Lebanese Red Cross in Taybeh village, while another was lost when Israeli forces targeted an army post in the Bint Jbeil area. Both incidents signify a deepening involvement of the Lebanese military in a conflict it has largely sought to avoid.
As the violence continues, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have intensified their calls for evacuation, ordering residents of two dozen towns and villages in southern Lebanon to leave immediately for their safety. This directive includes regions north of the Litani River, a strategic line established in UN Security Council resolutions following the 2006 war, underscoring Israel’s intent to push Hezbollah away from its borders.
Matthew Hollingworth, the World Food Programme’s country director in Lebanon, described the conditions in the city as “horrific.” Displacement is rampant, with many families fleeing the violence in the south and taking refuge in Beirut. “There are cars everywhere from people who have fled the fighting,” he noted, emphasizing the chaotic scenes in the capital as the civilian population grapples with the ongoing crisis.
Juan Gabriel Wells, the Lebanon country director with the International Rescue Committee, highlighted the vulnerability of those displaced by the conflict, noting that nearly half of the surveyed individuals in government-run shelters are children under the age of 15. The humanitarian implications of the conflict are severe, as families face uncertainty and insecurity amid the bombardments.
As the situation in Beirut unfolds, the specter of continued violence looms large. The combination of Israeli air strikes, Hezbollah’s responses, and the involvement of the Lebanese army paints a grim picture of a city caught in the crossfire. The toll on civilians, both in loss of life and in the displacement of families, raises urgent questions about the path forward in a region fraught with tension and conflict.
