International Escalation in Lebanon: 274 dead after Israeli attacks

In a further escalation in the conflict with Hezbollah, Israel has attacked hundreds of targets in Lebanon from the air. At least 274 people were killed and more than 1,000 injured, according to Lebanon's acting health minister Firas Abiad. Children and paramedics were among the victims. This is the highest number of dead and injured in southern Lebanon since the war-like clashes between Israel and Hezbollah began almost a year ago.

Following intensive bombing in the south by Israel's air force, positions in the Bekaa Valley in north-eastern Lebanon were also attacked in the afternoon, according to security sources. Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets at positions in northern Israel. Among other things, the militia targeted defense industry facilities near the port city of Haifa as well as military bases.

The Israeli military reported more than 300 attacks on Hezbollah "terror targets" on Monday alone. Videos shared on social media showed at least nine massive columns of smoke rising in the Lebanese coastal town of Tyros, for example.

Previously, there had been reports of warnings to the civilian population in Lebanon via so-called robot calls with pre-recorded messages or text messages. Until further notice, people should stay away from villages in whose buildings Hezbollah weapons are stored. The Lebanese Ministry of Information described the action as "psychological warfare" by Israel. The Lebanese were asked "not to pay any more attention to the messages and calls than necessary".

Israel's army had already expanded its attacks in the neighboring country in recent days. There were also dozens of dead and injured. The army has so far evaded questions as to whether a ground offensive by the military is also possible. In the event of an invasion by Israeli troops in Lebanon, an even greater involvement of allied Hezbollah militias in the region or Iran could not be ruled out.

Panic in the south of Lebanon

Hezbollah and Israel have been exchanging fire almost daily for almost a year. More than 500 Hezbollah fighters and two dozen civilians in Lebanon and 48 soldiers and civilians in Israel have been killed. In addition, 150,000 people on both sides of the border have had to leave their homes. The war-like conflict has intensified once again following the explosion of thousands of communication devices in Lebanon and an Israeli attack on the Hezbollah leadership near Beirut last week, which left more than 50 dead, including civilians. According to the Israeli military, Hezbollah fired 150 shells at civilian areas in Israel on Monday.

Residents were in panic following the latest air strikes in the south of Lebanon. Residents told the German Press Agency that many people were fleeing the suburbs of the southern city of Tyre, among others. Some rushed to the center of the coastal city and to the UN observer mission Unifil compound there. The streets were filled with cars of people who were apparently heading towards Beirut or other places in the north of the country. There were traffic jams on the roads.

There was "panic and chaos", eyewitnesses reported. In the coastal town of Sidon, which lies roughly halfway between Tyre and Beirut, traffic came to a complete standstill at times. Drivers shared videos on social media showing masses of Lebanese driving north.

Lebanon's government accuses Israel of "war of annihilation"

The Lebanese government accused Israel of "a war of annihilation in every sense of the word" in light of the attacks. "We as a government are working to stop this new war by Israel and prevent a descent into the unknown," said Acting Prime Minister Najib Mikati.

In the afternoon, the Israeli army also warned residents of the Bekaa Valley in the north-east of the country. Anyone in the vicinity of a house in which Hezbollah weapons are hidden should move at least one kilometer away within two hours. The Bekaa Plain is located in the north-east of Lebanon, around two hours' drive from Beirut. The area is where Hezbollah was founded.

Hezbollah is more heavily armed today than during the war 20 years ago

Israel and Hezbollah have already waged war against each other in 1982 and 2006. The Iranian-backed militia is much more heavily armed today than during the war almost 20 years ago. It claims to be acting in solidarity with the Islamist Hamas, which is fighting against Israel in the Gaza Strip. Hezbollah and Hamas are supported by Iran.

Israel's army has recently reduced the number of its attacks in the Gaza Strip and is increasingly concentrating on Hezbollah. Israel wants the militia to withdraw behind the Litani River, 30 kilometers from the border - as stipulated by UN Resolution 1701, which marked the end of the war in 2006. According to the resolution, Hezbollah is not allowed to be present along the border. However, neither the UN observer mission nor the Lebanese army are enforcing this. Israel has declared the return of its residents to their homes in the north to be one of its goals in the Gaza war.

Hezbollah is weakened after several attacks and has recently suffered its heaviest blows for decades. In total, Hezbollah has fired more than 8,800 rockets and drones into Israeli territory in just under a year, the Israeli military said. Before the Hezbollah attacks began on October 8, 2023, estimates of the Hezbollah arsenal stood at 150,000 rockets, drones and cruise missiles.

Israel's defense minister: population must show composure

Israel's Defense Minister Joav Galant said during a consultation that the country was intensifying its attacks in Lebanon. This would continue until Israel had achieved its goal of ensuring the safe return of the inhabitants of its northern sector. "We have days ahead of us in which the public must show composure, discipline and full compliance with instructions from the home front," Galant said.

SDA