In a dangerous development threatening to expand the conflict in the region, the Israeli army announced on Saturday that it had launched intensive air strikes on southern Lebanon, targeting thousands of Hezbollah rocket launchers.
An Israeli army statement clarified that “the Israeli Air Force targeted thousands of rocket launchers that were ready for immediate use to fire towards Israeli territories during the past hours,” adding that “180 targets” were struck without specifying their nature.
This escalation comes after an Israeli raid targeted Hezbollah’s elite unit in Lebanon, resulting in the death of 37 people, including prominent leaders of the group. This development has raised fears of a large-scale war breaking out in the region.
In response to the Israeli strikes, Hezbollah announced the launch of dozens of rockets towards military sites in northern Israel. Israel confirmed intercepting about 90 rockets.
Meanwhile, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati canceled his participation in the United Nations General Assembly, calling for “an end to the terrible Israeli massacres” in Lebanon.
It’s worth noting that Hezbollah, a powerful political and military force in Lebanon, has declared its support for Hamas in its war against Israel, which erupted following Hamas’s unprecedented attack on October 7, 2023.
In a related context, Israeli raids on the Gaza Strip continued, with Palestinian Civil Defense announcing the death of 21 people in an Israeli bombing that targeted a school housing thousands of displaced people.
The situation appears to be heading towards further escalation, with Israel insisting on destroying Hamas in Gaza and escalating threats against Hezbollah, which Israel demands withdraw from border areas in southern Lebanon.
Amid these rapid developments, the international community remains on alert, fearing that this escalation could lead to a full-scale regional war that may have dire consequences for the entire region.