Israeli forces have initiated a series of attacks across southern and eastern Lebanon, targeting the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah as part of the ongoing joint Israeli-United States military campaign against Iran. The Israeli military's Arabic-language spokesman, Avichay Adraee, issued a warning on X (formerly Twitter) about imminent strikes on the cities of Tyre and Sidon, urging residents to evacuate immediately and move at least 300 meters away from potential targets.
The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has intensified following the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes last week. Since then, Israel has carried out attacks throughout Lebanon, including in the capital, Beirut. Al Jazeera correspondent Zeina Khodr reported from Zahrani that there is a battle for control over southern Lebanon, with the Israeli military increasing its presence along the border, though Hezbollah claims to have repelled advances on several fronts.
The situation in Lebanon has led to severe humanitarian consequences: the Lebanese National News Agency (NNA) reported that four people were killed in the Bint Jbeil district, and Maronite Catholic priest Father Pierre al-Rahi was killed by Israeli tank fire in the village of Qlayaa in southern Lebanon. Al-Rahi had told France24 in an interview the day before his death that he intended to stay and defend his village peacefully, emphasizing that none of the locals carried weapons.
The Israeli army announced that it had hit 30 sites belonging to the Al-Qard al-Hasan association in Lebanon over the past week, alleging it is affiliated with Hezbollah. This nonprofit was also bombed by Israeli forces in October 2024, with Amnesty International calling for an investigation into potential war crimes. In response, Hezbollah has escalated its counterattacks: according to Israel's Magen David Adom emergency service, at least 16 people were injured in a Hezbollah missile attack on central Israel, and the group also targeted a drone control base and barracks near the border.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas urged both Hezbollah and Israel to cease their actions and return to the November 2024 ceasefire to prevent the country from "sliding into chaos." She called on Hezbollah to stop all actions against Israel while criticizing Israel for "heavy-handed" retaliation that is causing mass displacement. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun accused Hezbollah of working toward the "collapse" of the state and expressed Beirut's readiness for direct negotiations with Israel. According to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, at least 486 people have been killed in Israeli attacks since last week.
Source: www.aljazeera.com