Sunday witnessed a dangerous escalation in tensions between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah, raising fears of a wider regional conflict. Israel launched intensive airstrikes on southern Lebanon, while Hezbollah fired hundreds of rockets and drones into Israeli territory.
According to the Israeli military, a complex operation targeted thousands of rocket launchers in Lebanon, claiming to have thwarted a large-scale attack planned by Hezbollah. In response, Hezbollah declared its operation a success, describing it as the “first phase” of retaliation for the recent assassination of one of its military leaders.
The Israeli strikes resulted in the death of three fighters in southern Lebanon, while Hezbollah’s rockets caused damage to buildings in northern Israel. The United Nations has called on both sides to cease fire.
This escalation comes as the war in Gaza continues, where the Hamas-run Health Ministry announced that the Palestinian death toll has risen to 40,405 since the beginning of the conflict.
In light of these developments, numerous flights to and from Tel Aviv and Beirut airports have been canceled, reflecting the instability in the region.
Diplomatic efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza continue, with talks in Cairo involving intelligence officials from several countries. However, the recent escalation casts a shadow over these efforts and increases fears of a broader regional war.
The situation remains tense, with international concern growing over the potential for further escalation and the humanitarian impact of the ongoing conflicts in both Gaza and along the Israel-Lebanon border.