In a dramatic escalation of the ongoing Middle East conflict, Israel launched airstrikes on Hezbollah’s stronghold in southern Beirut early Thursday. One of the bombs struck near Lebanon’s only international airport, severely damaging a warehouse in a heater factory. While the airport remains operational, the air raid caused some structural damage to nearby buildings, including those of Lebanon’s national airline, Middle East Airlines.
This military action comes after Hezbollah claimed responsibility for multiple attacks on Israeli targets, including a missile strike on a military base near Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport. What began as a focus on the Gaza conflict with Hamas in late September has since expanded, with Israel now concentrating on its northern border as Hezbollah has aligned itself with Hamas in launching low-level strikes.
On Wednesday, Israeli airstrikes intensified, targeting Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa Valley and the historic city of Baalbek, a known Hezbollah center. According to Lebanon’s health ministry, these raids resulted in the deaths of at least 40 people.
The violence has severely affected residents of southern Beirut, particularly those living in Hezbollah’s power base. Many are fleeing their homes, seeking shelter in cars as they fear for their safety. Local residents describe the sense of terror and uncertainty, with some saying they feel death is a matter of chance.
The conflict’s effects extend well beyond Lebanon’s borders. In Gaza, which has been devastated by 13 months of war, people are desperate for a resolution. Amid widespread displacement and loss of life, many hope that the U.S. election and the potential return of Donald Trump to the White House could push for a ceasefire.
While the U.S. remains Israel’s strongest ally, the outcome of the election could be pivotal. Although President Joe Biden’s administration previously advocated for a ceasefire, Israel views the U.S. as a crucial partner in its battle against Hamas and Hezbollah. The violence in Gaza, which erupted after Hamas’s brutal attack on October 7, has claimed the lives of over 43,000 people, according to health ministry figures from Gaza.
In Lebanon, some had hoped for a reprieve following the U.S. election, but Hezbollah’s leader, in a recent televised speech, dismissed the notion that the election results would alter the trajectory of the conflict. He asserted that Hezbollah has tens of thousands of trained fighters ready for battle and declared that no area in Israel would be safe from attack.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has vowed to continue the fight until victory, spoke with President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday. The leaders discussed the growing threat from Iran, Hezbollah’s primary sponsor. Netanyahu congratulated Trump on his win and expressed his intent to work closely with the incoming U.S. administration to ensure Israel’s security.
Iran, which has long supported Hezbollah, expressed its concerns regarding U.S. policies and the election results. Tehran has an adversarial relationship with the U.S. dating back to the 1979 Islamic Revolution, and its officials see the potential for Trump’s presidency to change the U.S.’s approach to the region.
The situation remains tense, with no clear end in sight. The escalating violence in the region underscores the urgent need for a peaceful resolution, but with so many competing interests at play, finding a solution remains elusive.
