JERUSALEM/BEIRUT. Israel launched one of its most extensive airstrikes on Monday, targeting more than 300 Hezbollah positions, as tensions along its northern border intensified. The strikes, which Lebanese health authorities report killed at least 182 people, mark the deadliest day in Lebanon in nearly a year of conflict with Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group.
In a clear escalation, Israeli forces shifted focus from its southern border with Gaza, where it has been locked in conflict with Hamas, to confront the growing threat from Hezbollah in the north. Hezbollah has been launching rockets into Israel in support of its ally Hamas, intensifying the already fragile situation in the region.
“The actions will continue until we achieve our goal to return the northern residents safely to their homes,” Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said in a video statement released by his office. He set the tone for a prolonged conflict, as Hezbollah vowed to continue fighting until a ceasefire is reached in Gaza. “These are days in which the Israeli public will have to show composure,” Gallant added.
Lebanon’s Ministry of Health confirmed the deadly toll of 182 casualties, which included women, children, and medics, with another 727 wounded in the widespread Israeli strikes across southern Lebanon, the eastern Bekaa Valley, and northern regions near Syria.
The Israeli military spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, stated on X (formerly Twitter) that over 300 Hezbollah targets had been struck in the ongoing operation. Israel had earlier warned that homes in Lebanon harboring Hezbollah weapons were likely targets of imminent airstrikes. The military claimed that Hezbollah stored weapons, including rockets and missiles, in residential areas, but these allegations remain unverified by independent sources.
Hezbollah responded by firing rockets at Israeli military installations. Israel’s army has since prepared for another round of air assaults, focusing on strategic Hezbollah stockpiles in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, warning civilians to evacuate the region immediately. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, an Israeli military spokesperson, emphasized in a televised address: “In every house we are attacking, there are weapons. Rockets, missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles meant to kill Israeli civilians.” He added that the strikes had triggered secondary explosions from Hezbollah’s hidden arsenals.
The pressure on Hezbollah has increased following last week’s incident in which thousands of pagers and walkie-talkies, reportedly used by the group, were destroyed in a mysterious explosion. Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah called the attack “unprecedented in the history” of the organization, with many blaming Israel for the strike, though Israel has neither confirmed nor denied responsibility.
In another critical blow, an Israeli airstrike on Friday targeted Hezbollah leadership in Beirut’s southern suburbs, killing 45 individuals, including 16 Hezbollah members. Among those killed were senior commander Ibrahim Aqil and another leader, Ahmed Wahbi.
The escalating violence has stoked fears of a broader Middle East conflict, potentially drawing in global powers like the United States and Iran. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Nasser Kanaani, warned of “dangerous consequences to the new adventure of the Zionists” following the Israeli strikes.
As Lebanon reels from the devastation, the country faces significant internal challenges. The ongoing financial crisis leaves Lebanon ill-equipped to endure a prolonged war, reminiscent of the 2006 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah that severely damaged Lebanese infrastructure. State employee Joseph Ghafary expressed his concern: “If Hezbollah carries out a major operation, Israel will respond and destroy more than this. We can’t bear it.”
Calls for civilian evacuations reached as far as Beirut, with more than 80,000 automated evacuation alerts detected on Lebanon’s telecommunications networks, according to Imad Kreidieh, head of the Lebanese telecom company Ogero. However, not all calls were answered, and many Lebanese remained in areas of intense fighting. Interior Minister Bassam al-Mawlawi announced that schools in Beirut, Tripoli, and the south would be opened as shelters for displaced citizens.
In response to the growing crisis, Lebanon’s Information Minister Ziad Makary dismissed evacuation calls made to government buildings, declaring, “This is a psychological war.”
The intensification of Israel’s military campaign against Hezbollah raises questions about the duration of the conflict. Rear Admiral Hagari hinted at potential ground operations, though the current focus remains on a widescale aerial offensive. “We have a full plan that has been presented. Today, we are mounting a widescale aerial operation. We will continue to act according to plan. We have one mission—to return the residents in the north safely,” Hagari stated.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
