In a dramatic escalation of the conflict, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a direct plea to the Lebanese population to evacuate areas at risk, warning of further Israeli military action. The call came after the Israeli military announced it had struck over 800 Hezbollah targets in southern and eastern Lebanon, resulting in a devastating toll on civilian life.
“Please, get out of harm’s way now. Once our operation is finished, you can come back safely to your homes,” Netanyahu stated in a video address, shortly after the Israeli army announced its strikes.
The Lebanese health minister reported that 274 people, including 21 children, had been killed in the Israeli strikes on Monday. This marked the deadliest cross-border escalation since the conflict in Gaza began on October 7.
Netanyahu directly addressed the Lebanese people, stating that Hezbollah, backed by Iran, had endangered their security by using them as human shields. “Hezbollah has been using you as human shields. It placed rockets in your living rooms and missiles in your garage,” he said.
Hezbollah’s rocket attacks on Israel began in support of Hamas following the latter’s unprecedented attack on southern Israel, which ignited the current war in Gaza. Hundreds of thousands of residents in northern Israel sought refuge in bomb shelters as Hezbollah launched a significant number of rockets across the border.
The escalation followed an Israeli airstrike on Friday targeting Hezbollah’s stronghold in southern Beirut, killing its elite Radwan Force commander, Ibrahim Aqil, along with other commanders and civilians. This strike came after coordinated blasts from communications devices on Tuesday and Wednesday, which Hezbollah attributed to Israel and resulted in 39 fatalities and nearly 3,000 injuries.
The situation remains volatile, with the potential for further escalation on both sides. The international community is closely monitoring the situation and urging both sides to de-escalate and engage in dialogue to find a peaceful solution.
