Beirut, October 3, 2024 — Escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has resulted in devastating airstrikes on southern suburbs of Beirut, marking a significant intensification in regional hostilities. On Thursday afternoon, Israeli airstrikes targeted Hezbollah strongholds, including the densely populated neighborhood of Haret Hreik, in an operation that left behind widespread destruction and multiple casualties.
According to the Lebanese state-run National News Agency (NNA), one of the airstrikes hit Hezbollah’s media office. Shortly after the attack, Hezbollah confirmed that its media office had been targeted. Strikes, which sent large plumes of smoke into the air over Beirut, were audible across the city, as Israeli drones circled overhead.
Lebanese Health Ministry reported that the death toll from airstrikes had risen to nine as of Thursday evening, with 14 injured. Among the dead were seven medical workers affiliated with Hezbollah’s Islamic Health Authority, whose office was destroyed in one of the blasts. The latest strikes come as part of a broader campaign by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) to cripple Hezbollah’s military capabilities.
Intensifying Clashes Along Israel-Lebanon Border
In addition to airstrikes in Beirut, IDF has continued its heavy bombardment of Hezbollah positions across southern Lebanon. On Thursday, IDF announced that it had struck 200 Hezbollah targets overnight, including infrastructure sites, weapons storage facilities, and observation posts. The Israeli military also reported killing 15 Hezbollah fighters during the operations.
In response, Hezbollah forces fired rockets at Israeli settlements in northern Israel and launched artillery attacks along the border, including at the Fatima Gate crossing near Maroun Al-Ras. Hezbollah stated that the strikes were carried out in support of Palestinian militants in Gaza and as retaliation for Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Lebanon. Israeli forces, however, maintain that its operations remain “targeted and limited” but have issued new evacuation orders for 25 additional villages in southern Lebanon. The total number of villages now under evacuation orders has reached 76, a clear sign of broadening Israeli ground incursion into Lebanese territory.
Hezbollah Faces Severe Losses Amid Regional Shifts
the scale of the Israeli assault represents the most intense bombardment of Lebanon in nearly two decades. It follows a series of violent escalations over the past two weeks, during which Israel killed Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, in a targeted strike. This decapitation of Hezbollah’s leadership has significantly degraded the militant group’s capacity, shifting the balance of power in the region.
Paul Salem, vice president for international engagement at the Middle East Institute, noted that Israel’s recent operations have resulted in a “tectonic shift” in the regional power dynamic. “Israel used to view Hezbollah as a significant deterrent when contemplating any actions against Iran. But after Nasrallah’s assassination and blows Hezbollah has suffered, Israel is now more focused on directly targeting Iran.”
This shift follows an Iranian missile attack on Israel earlier in the week, further heightening tensions. With Iran’s backing of Hezbollah, the conflict now appears poised to evolve into a larger regional confrontation. Salem further remarked that the ” balance of deterrence has changed, with Iran losing its foothold through Hezbollah in Lebanon.”
U.S. and Global Reactions: Calls for Restraint
International reactions to escalation have been mixed, with some advocating for caution and ors urging decisive action. Former U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton criticized President Joe Biden’s call for Israel to exercise restraint. In an interview with CNN, Bolton argued that Israel must respond disproportionately to deter Iran from further aggression.
“Even if that’s Biden’s position, why reveal it to Israel’s adversaries in Tehran?” Bolton asked, arguing that Israel’s response should target Iran’s nuclear weapons program to neutralize future threats effectively. ” The administration’s fear of a wider war is misplaced,” he added. ” Wider war is already here.”
However, many fear further escalation could destabilize the region, plunging it into a more devastating conflict. Analysts caution that a confrontation between Israel and Iran could lead to severe humanitarian consequences, especially as Israel continues its airstrikes and prepares for a broader assault on Hezbollah’s remaining infrastructure.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens in Lebanon
ongoing conflict has created a humanitarian crisis in Lebanon, where hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced from their homes. In Beirut, where the latest airstrikes destroyed multiple residential and commercial buildings, damage is extensive, leaving many residents without shelter. In southern Lebanon, evacuation orders have prompted a mass exodus as families flee northward to escape violence.
Lebanese authorities have called for international aid to address growing humanitarian needs. Meanwhile, the Lebanese Red Cross reported that one of its soldiers was killed during a rescue and evacuation mission in the southern town of Taybeh, adding to the growing list of casualties.
Future Prospects: A Region on Edge
As the situation unfolds, experts warn that the region stands on the brink of a full-scale conflict. With Hezbollah severely weakened and Israel emboldened by its recent successes, the next phase may see a direct Israeli attack on Iran, a scenario that could draw in multiple regional actors and further destabilize the Middle East.
Israel’s ground operations in southern Lebanon, combined with its airstrikes on Beirut, underscore the fragility of current ceasefire agreements and the potential for broader violence. As regional powers assess our next moves, the prospect of peace appears more distant than ever.
