Israel Launches Major Attack on Lebanon as it Expands its Conflict in Iran
Image Credit: Al Jazeera via Reuters
Israel launched a widespread attack against Southern Lebanon on Monday, forcing tens of thousands of residents to be displaced since. The attacks come after Hezbollah claimed responsibility for an attack against Israel in retaliation for their assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, on March 1st.
Hezbollah is a militant group that came about in the 1980s as a result of Israeli occupation in Southern Lebanon. Backed by Iran, Hezbollah’s main aim is evicting Israeli presence in Lebanon.
The development followed after Hezbollah launched drones and fired rockets towards northern Israel, early Monday morning, an attack that was the first of such action since the November 2024 ceasefire. Israel retaliated with a wave of airstrikes that have since killed 72 people in Lebanon.
However, Israel’s Channel 12 news has confirmed that the Israeli government approved the attack against Lebanon hours proceeding Hezbollah’s initial rocket attacks.
These aerial attacks have primarily targeted Lebanon’s southern suburbs, including Dahieh and the Bekaa Valley, which contain the majority of Hezbollah’s infrastructure. Since then, the IDF have deployed additional ground forces along the border in a new ground incursion aimed at advancing further into the territory.
Israel ordered the evacuation of vast swaths of Lebanon as Hezbollah declared it was ready for an ‘open war’ with Israel in wake of the US-Israeli war on Iran. Civilians in Lebanon have fled northward away from the targeted areas.
As of Friday evening, the Lebanese Health Ministry has reported that the current death toll has risen to at least 394, including 83 children, since Israel’s renewed assault on Monday. Another 517,000 people have been displaced in official shelters.
Civilians across Lebanon have been continuously affected by Israeli attacks during the year long war in 2023-2024, which killed at least 3,961 people. Israel has since violated the ceasefire on a near daily basis.