The situation in Lebanon remains extremely tense as fighting between Hezbollah and the Israeli army continues in several parts of the country. Israeli bombing is relentless, mainly affecting southern Lebanon, but also other areas. The front is active with exchanges of fire, while political and diplomatic initiatives are trying to manage the crisis, without much success so far.
1) News from the front
Since dawn, clashes have intensified along the Lebanese-Israeli border. In the early hours of the morning, rockets were fired from southern Lebanon towards the Israeli areas of Acre and Haifa, causing alarm sirens and panic movements in these areas. At around 6:00 a.m., the Islamic resistance claimed responsibility for a rocket attack on Israeli positions in Shumira and Khilla Warda. Shortly before that, at 5:45 a.m., an assault was carried out on the Israeli military thesis in Zar’it, inflicting losses on the enemy.
The Israelis, for their part, have also intensified their military operations. The IDF said it had struck about 280 targets in Lebanon in the past 24 hours, mostly in the south of the country. These operations are aimed at preventing any infiltration by Hezbollah and destroying its military infrastructure. Hezbollah, for its part, claimed to have targeted several groups of Israeli soldiers trying to infiltrate the village of Ramiya, causing significant casualties among Israeli troops.
2) Information on the bombings
Israeli shelling hit many areas of Lebanon overnight and this morning. At around 1:00 a.m., heavy strikes hit the towns of Aita al-Shaab, Ramia, and Tibnin, in southern Lebanon, causing massive destruction. The Bekaa communities of Nabatiyeh, Brital, and Tamnin al-Tahta have also been targeted by successive Israeli raids, causing extensive damage to local infrastructure.
Lebanon’s health ministry confirmed several casualties in the strikes on Deir Bella in the Batroun region, where two people were killed and four others were wounded. In Nabatiyeh, the strikes injured eight people and the destruction of a commercial market worsened the humanitarian situation. Aitat, in Mount Lebanon, was also hit, injuring two more people.
In addition, artillery shelling took place in the Khiam plain and in several border towns such as Bint Jbeil and Qawzah, where the Israeli air force increased its strikes. At around 11:00 a.m., Israeli planes targeted the city of Khiam with coordinated airstrikes.
3) Local political initiatives
On the political level, Hezbollah remains determined to continue its fight against Israel. In a statement, he reaffirmed his commitment to repelling all Israeli attempts at infiltration and claimed responsibility for several attacks carried out in the morning. Hezbollah deputy secretary-general Naim Kassem said that any Israeli attempt to push for a ceasefire would be futile as long as the bombing continued. According to him, the resistance will continue until Israel agrees to a cessation of hostilities based on terms favorable to Lebanon and Palestine.
Lebanon’s Minister of Health held a press conference this morning, stressing the gravity of the humanitarian situation and calling for immediate international support for Lebanese civilians and medical infrastructure affected by the strikes.
4) Diplomatic initiatives
On the diplomatic front, attempts to curb the escalation are multiplying. The UN Security Council is meeting in emergency session to discuss the situation in Lebanon, but no consensus has yet been reached on a concrete intervention. The US Secretary of State called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and urged the parties to resume dialogue to avoid a full-scale war.
French President Emmanuel Macron has stepped up his efforts by calling on the Lebanese government to support the implementation of Resolution 1701, which calls for the disarmament of all non-state militias in Lebanon and the cessation of hostilities with Israel. France has also offered to send mediators to facilitate a ceasefire agreement.
However, on the ground, these diplomatic efforts seem ineffective for the moment, with the shelling continuing unabated and the exchange of fire showing no sign of abating. The United States has confirmed the urgent dispatch of THAAD missile defense batteries to Israel, which portends preparation for a long war in the region.
5) Miscellaneous information
At the same time, Israeli sources have reported civilian casualties and injuries in the bombing of northern Israel, particularly in the Galilee region. The Lebanese Red Crescent has published a report on the state of hospitals in southern Lebanon, indicating that several medical facilities, including the one in Rayak, have suffered considerable damage, making it even more difficult to care for the injured.
Internal tensions also remain in Lebanon, with sporadic anti-government protests in Beirut and growing concerns about the safety of civilians displaced by the fighting. Many southern Lebanese have fled to Beirut and the mountains, seeking refuge as Israeli bombardment intensifies.
Finally, the announcement of a new Iraqi drone attack on Israeli positions in Eilat in southern Israel this morning could worsen the regional situation, raising fears of an escalation of the conflict involving new forces.
