In a shocking escalation of the Israel-Lebanon conflict, powerful Israeli air strikes pounded central Beirut and southern regions early Saturday morning, leaving a trail of devastation and mounting casualties in their wake. The intense bombardment, which targeted strongholds of the Iran-backed Hezbollah group, shook the Lebanese capital and ignited fears of a full-scale war engulfing the region.
Deadly Air Strikes Hit Beirut and Beyond
According to security sources, at least four bombs struck the heart of Beirut around 4 a.m., causing widespread destruction in the city’s Basta neighborhood. Hezbollah’s Al-Manar broadcaster reported that the attack claimed the lives of four people and wounded 33 others, citing the health ministry. Shocking footage from the scene revealed an eight-story residential building reduced to rubble, with adjacent structures severely damaged by the impact.
The strikes marked the fourth such assault on central Beirut this week, as Israel intensified its offensive against Hezbollah. Agence France-Presse journalists reported hearing at least three massive explosions that reverberated across the shaken capital. Residents awoke to scenes of utter devastation, with rescue workers frantically searching through the debris for survivors trapped beneath the wreckage.
Mounting Casualties and Collateral Damage
The deadly air strikes extended beyond Beirut, with Israeli forces pummeling southern Lebanon and inflicting heavy casualties. In a tragic incident, an Israeli strike on a residence near Dar Al-Amal University hospital in northeastern Lebanon’s Baalbek province claimed the lives of the hospital’s director and six colleagues, according to the health ministry. The mounting toll underscores the devastating impact on civilians caught in the crosshairs of the conflict.
Further south, Israeli air strikes on two villages killed five medics from a Hezbollah-affiliated rescue force. The Lebanese health ministry reported that more than 200 medics are among the staggering 3,500 people killed by Israeli strikes over the past year, highlighting the dire humanitarian consequences of the prolonged hostilities.
UN Peacekeepers Targeted Amid Clashes
In a disturbing development, four Italian soldiers serving with the UN peacekeeping force (Unifil) suffered light injuries when two rockets exploded at their base in southern Lebanon. While an investigation is underway, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani suggested that Hezbollah might be responsible for the attack, further complicating the already tense situation on the ground.
As Israeli ground troops clashed with Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon, the Iran-backed group claimed to have fired rockets at Israeli forces east of the town of Khiyam multiple times throughout Friday. Lebanese security sources reported that Israeli troops had advanced into a string of villages to the west, underscoring the fluid and volatile nature of the battlefield.
Dwindling Hopes for a Ceasefire
Despite efforts by U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein, who expressed optimism that a truce was “within our grasp,” Israel’s unrelenting military campaign against Hezbollah has tempered hopes for an imminent ceasefire. The White House revealed that President Joe Biden and his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, discussed securing a deal that would allow residents on both sides of the Blue Line to return safely to their homes. However, the path to a lasting resolution remains fraught with challenges.
Humanitarian Crisis Looms in Gaza
As the conflict rages on, the dire situation in Gaza has reached a critical juncture. The Hamas-run health ministry warned that hospitals in the Palestinian territory have a mere two days’ worth of fuel left, threatening to force them to restrict vital services. The U.N. has sounded the alarm, cautioning that aid delivery to Gaza is being severely hampered, exacerbating the already dire humanitarian crisis.
“Do you know that most of the apartments’ owners took credit to buy those houses? Life savings are gone, memories and safety … which Israel decided to steal from us,” lamented Abeer Darwich, a resident forced to evacuate her building in Beirut’s southern suburbs following Israeli warnings.
As the Israel-Lebanon conflict shows no signs of abating, the urgent need for diplomatic intervention and a comprehensive resolution has never been more apparent. The international community must rally to prevent further bloodshed, protect civilians on both sides, and chart a path towards lasting peace in this war-torn region. Until then, the people of Lebanon and Gaza will continue to bear the brunt of the violence, their lives shattered by the unrelenting cycle of conflict.
