BEIRUT: Israel has ramped up its airstrikes on Lebanon, with the health ministry reporting 12 casualties, mostly from attacks on vehicles south of Beirut. This escalation comes despite a ceasefire in place between Israel and Hezbollah.
According to the state-run National News Agency (NNA), Israeli forces targeted over 30 sites in southern Lebanon and at least one town in the east.
These latest airstrikes occurred just before a new round of direct talks between Lebanon and Israel in Washington, which are being facilitated by the United States. Hezbollah has expressed strong opposition to these negotiations.
Chadi Abdallah, head of Lebanon’s National Council for Scientific Research, reported that since the truce began nearly four weeks ago, more than 10,000 homes have been damaged or destroyed. He specifically mentioned that 5,386 housing units were completely destroyed, while another 5,246 sustained damage.
The health ministry indicated that three airstrikes targeting vehicles on the coastal highway, located about 20 to 30 kilometers from Beirut, resulted in eight deaths, including two children. Additionally, a fourth strike in Sidon, Lebanon’s largest southern city, claimed another life.
The Israeli attacks have left a significant toll, with over 400 people killed in Lebanon since the ceasefire, based on health ministry figures compiled by AFP. The Israeli army stated that its strikes focused on Hezbollah’s infrastructure, weapon storage, and rocket launchers.
Witnesses reported thick smoke rising from an area called Burj al-Shemali, one of nine locations where Israel advised evacuations. Hezbollah has also claimed responsibility for several attacks on Israeli troops in southern Lebanon.
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has raised concerns about the ongoing activities of Hezbollah and Israeli soldiers near UN positions in the region. This includes concerns over increasing drone usage that has resulted in explosions near UN bases.
In Sidon, mourners gathered for the funeral of two civil defense personnel killed in an Israeli strike a day earlier. Colleagues held Lebanese flags in an honor guard as the coffins, draped in the national flag, were carried past.
This week, Lebanon requested that the U.S. urge Israel to pause its strikes ahead of the upcoming negotiations. Veteran diplomat Simon Karam will lead the Lebanese delegation for these talks, marking a significant moment in efforts for potential peace, despite ongoing tensions. Hezbollah’s leader, Naim Qassem, has warned that his forces would retaliate fiercely against Israeli actions.
