Israeli Air Strikes on Lebanon Escalate Amid Ceasefire Confusion
Israeli air strikes in Lebanon have resulted in significant casualties, with confusion over ceasefire terms leading to continued conflict.
Key Facts
- —Israeli air strikes killed 303 and wounded 1,150 in Lebanon on Wednesday.
- —The conflict began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28.
- —Israel targeted over 100 Hezbollah sites in Lebanon.
- —Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel, no casualties reported.
- —21 people killed in latest Israeli strikes on Thursday.
- —UN warns of a growing humanitarian crisis in Lebanon.
- —Netanyahu seeks direct negotiations with Lebanon.
Israeli air strikes have intensified in Lebanon, resulting in significant casualties and further complicating the already tense situation in the region. On Wednesday, Israeli jets conducted a 10-minute blitz across Lebanon, killing at least 303 people and wounding 1,150 others, according to Lebanon's health ministry. The strikes targeted over 100 Hezbollah headquarters, military arrays, and command-and-control centers in Beirut, Bekaa, and southern Lebanon, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
The conflict, which began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, has seen Israel targeting Hezbollah and occupying large parts of Lebanon. Despite a two-week pause in the fighting announced by Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the Israeli government stated that the ceasefire did not include Lebanon. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated on Thursday night that there was "no ceasefire in Lebanon."
Iran condemned the Israeli attack as "a blatant violation" of the ceasefire deal. In response to the Israeli strikes, Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel, with sirens sounding across the country. However, no casualties were reported from these rocket attacks.
U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Amid Ongoing Tensions and Leadership Changes
The latest Israeli air strikes on Thursday resulted in the deaths of 21 people, including seven members of the same family in the town of Abbassieh and 11 people in Zrarieh. A medical center in Burj Qalaway was also hit, killing two people. A drone strike targeted an ambulance in Toul, but no casualties were reported.
The humanitarian situation in Lebanon is deteriorating, with UN aid agencies warning of a growing crisis. More than a million people are displaced, and food costs are rising. "You cannot manage what happened, the number of bombs," said Mohammad Hamoud, describing the impact of the strikes. "In a very, very short period, complete damage everywhere. It was astonishing."
U.S. and Iran Engage in Ceasefire Talks Amid Regional Tensions
Efforts to establish peace negotiations between Lebanon and Israel have been ongoing since a ceasefire agreement in November 2024. Netanyahu announced that he had instructed the cabinet to open direct negotiations with Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah and achieve a historic peace agreement. Such direct talks would be highly unusual.
The conflict has resulted in over 1,700 deaths in Lebanon since Israel launched its latest campaign last month. The situation remains volatile, with continued military actions and diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict.
