Israeli forces launched heavy attacks on Hezbollah strongholds in Lebanon’s Beirut and continued bombardments in Palesintinan territory of Gaza following a series of retaliatory rocket attacks from the Lebanese group.
Hezbollah reportedly fired rockets into northern Israel, with Israeli officials claiming a drone was also launched towards Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s holiday home, though Netanyahu was not present during the attack.
Israeli officials claim the incident as a Hezbollah-led assassination attempt and warned that the group had made a “grave mistake.”
Israeli military invasions escalated further on Saturday, claiming that they are targeting Hezbollah weapons storage sites and intelligence facilities in Beirut’s southern suburbs.
The strikes left black smoke billowing over the city as Israel responded to the 200 rockets Hezbollah launched earlier that day.
Israel’s recent attack has marked the latest escalation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which has intensified since Israel began military invasions against Hamas in Gaza more than a year ago.
The conflict in Gaza has also reached critical levels, with Israeli attacks continuing to devastate the enclave.
More than 100 people were reported dead in the latest Israeli attacks, and the siege around three hospitals in Gaza has tightened, cutting off crucial medical supplies and services.
The United Nations estimates over 75,000 people have been displaced within Gaza this month alone, adding to the humanitarian crisis exacerbated by the conflict.
Israeli officials have reiterated their determination to root out Hamas, even after the assasination of its leader, Yahya Sinwar, on Wednesday.
Despite hopes that Sinwar’s death might pave the way for ceasefires in Gaza and Lebanon, both Hamas and Hezbollah have vowed to continue fighting.
International leaders have expressed concern over the intensifying violence.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin called on Israel to scale back its strikes around Beirut, while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz emphasized the need for a ceasefire to prevent further escalation.
Despite these calls for de-escalation, Israeli forces continued their operations, issuing evacuation orders in parts of Beirut and conducting further strikes on Hezbollah positions.
Since the conflict began in October 2023, more than 42,500 Palestinians have been killed, with over 99,000 injured in Israeli attacks.
Hezbollah has also suffered significant losses, with attacks targeting high-level commanders, including the killing of its Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah in September.
The situation remains volatile as Israel continues its military efforts against Hezbollah and Hamas, while the international community grapples with how to prevent the conflict from spreading further.
