Politics Lebanon: 182 dead and 727 injured in Israel's attacks

At least 182 people have been killed and 727 injured in Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health. Children and paramedics were among the victims. It is the highest number of deaths and injuries in Lebanon since the war-like clashes between Israel and Hezbollah began almost a year ago. They are also the deadliest attacks by Israel in Lebanon since the last major war between the two parties in 2006.

Israel's army had already stepped up its attacks in the neighboring country in recent days. There have also been deaths and injuries. 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. On Monday alone, the Israeli military reported more than 300 attacks on Hezbollah targets.

Hezbollah and Israel have been exchanging fire almost daily for almost a year. More than 500 Hezbollah fighters, 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 after the explosion of thousands of communication devices in Lebanon and an Israeli attack on the Hezbollah leadership near Beirut with more than 50 dead, including civilians, last week.

Hezbollah is much 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 Gaza 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.

SDA