The Israel-Hezbollah conflict has taken a dangerous turn with deadly airstrikes in Beirut, Lebanon. According to media reports, the strikes targeted two neighborhoods in central Beirut, killing 22 people and injuring 117. This escalation of violence comes as tensions between Israel and Hezbollah continue to rise.
The same day as the Beirut airstrikes, Israeli forces fired on United Nations peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, wounding two. Israeli media reports indicate the target of the Beirut airstrikes was a senior Hezbollah official, though the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have not officially confirmed this.
Following the airstrikes, the US State Department issued a statement calling on Israel to take “all feasible steps” to protect civilians during its military operations. While the US supports Israel’s right to defend itself against Hezbollah, the spokesperson emphasized that “how it does so matters.”
Hezbollah’s media outlet, Al Manar TV, reported that the Beirut airstrikes were an attempt to kill Wafiq Safa, a top security official with the group, but failed. In September, the IDF targeted and eliminated Hassan Nasrallah, the Hezbollah chief, in a similar operation.
The escalating conflict in southern Lebanon has raised serious concerns, as described by UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix in a briefing to the UN Security Council. He described the situation as “increasingly alarming”, with the lives of UN peacekeepers at stake. He added that the IDF had instructed the UN peacekeepers to remain in ‘protected areas’.
Hezbollah has expanded its rocket fire, targeting more populated areas deep inside Israel. While the attacks have resulted in few casualties, they are disrupting daily life. The two Indonesian UN peacekeepers who were wounded in the Israeli attack have been hospitalized.
Amidst the rising tensions, US Vice President Kamala Harris has called for de-escalation, stating the need for a ceasefire. “We have got to reach a ceasefire. We’ve got to de-escalate,” said Harris at a Las Vegas event. This escalation of the conflict has put civilians and UN peacekeepers at risk, raising concerns about the potential for further bloodshed and a wider regional conflict. The international community is urging both sides to exercise restraint and pursue a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
