In one of the deadliest escalations since the 2006 conflict, Israeli airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon killed 492 people on Monday. The strikes, which hit 1,600 Hezbollah locations across southern Lebanon, mark the most intense cross-border violence between Israel and Hezbollah in nearly a year. In retaliation, the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah launched 200 rockets into northern Israel, targeting cities like Haifa, Afula, and Nazareth. The attacks triggered rocket sirens throughout northern Israel, though most rockets were intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome defense system, and no casualties were reported.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said the strikes targeted long-range rockets, cruise missiles, and UAVs, which were intended to cause widespread damage across Israel. The IDF released images of a rocket mounted on a hydraulic launcher inside a civilian home in Lebanon, accusing Hezbollah of storing weapons in residential areas. Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, stated that the military was altering the “security balance” along its northern border with Lebanon. The IDF Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, indicated that the military was preparing for the next phases of the conflict, though further details were not disclosed.
Hezbollah’s retaliatory rocket attack followed Israel’s airstrikes, and the Iran-backed group claimed the rockets were aimed at Israeli military bases and airfields. The ongoing violence has raised fears of a wider regional conflict, particularly as tensions have been high since the Gaza conflict erupted in October of last year.
The situation in Lebanon has grown increasingly dire, with tens of thousands of residents fleeing southern towns and villages towards Beirut. Lebanon’s health ministry reported that, in addition to the 492 fatalities, 1,645 people were injured in the strikes, many of whom were women and children. This marked the highest daily death toll in Lebanon since the 1975-1990 civil war.
International efforts to de-escalate the conflict are underway, with US President Joe Biden being briefed on the situation. The US State Department expressed its readiness to defend its allies, while France has called for a UN Security Council meeting. Meanwhile, Egypt and Turkey warned that the conflict could destabilize the entire region. EgyptAir and Jordan’s national airline suspended all flights to Beirut until the situation improves.
