Over the weekend, Hezbollah launched a barrage of rockets at Israel.
Here are 10 points on this big news:
- Hezbollah deputy chief Naim Qassem issued a defiant message that the group has entered “a new phase” in its confrontation with Israel. Qassem made his comments after Israeli attacks on northern Lebanon that targeted Hezbollah strongholds, resulting in extensive damage and many casualties.
- Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant reiterated Israel’s commitment to ensuring the safety of its northern residents, saying, “Military action will continue until we reach a point where we can ensure the safe return of Israel’s northern communities to their homes.” As both sides continue to harden their stance, army chief Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi has vowed that Israel will “strike at anyone who threatens” its citizens.
- Israel’s biggest ally the United States has urged restraint. President Joe Biden stressed that military escalation is not in Israel’s “best interest” and that the US is working tirelessly to prevent a wider conflict. “We are going to do everything we can to prevent a wider war,” Biden said.
- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also reiterated similar concerns, warning of the risk of Lebanon becoming “another Gaza” amid the ongoing Gaza conflict.
- Over the weekend, Hezbollah fired a barrage of rockets that reached Kiryat Bialik, near Israel’s largest northern city Haifa, causing damage to infrastructure and raising fears of further escalation of tensions. In retaliation, Israel attacked Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon, including an airbase and military production facilities. Israel’s civil defense agency ordered schools in the north to close due to the shooting.
- Lebanon’s health ministry reported three people were killed in Israeli attacks in southern areas, while Hezbollah confirmed two of its fighters were killed. The Israeli military reported more than 150 rockets, missiles and drones were fired from Lebanon into its territory overnight.
- Recent Israeli airstrikes, including an attack on the densely populated Dahiyah neighborhood in Beirut, killed Ibrahim Aqeel, the head of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force.
- Hezbollah has signaled it will not back down, with Qassim saying the group is ready to face “all military possibilities.” This comes as Israel continues to target Hezbollah’s military infrastructure, in an attempt to prevent the group from expanding its influence along the Israeli-Lebanese border.
- Despite mediation efforts led by Qatar, Egypt and the United States, the conflict shows no signs of abating. Efforts to secure a ceasefire and facilitate the release of hostages have stalled, with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelati indicating that the situation between Israel and Hezbollah is negatively affecting efforts to stabilise Gaza.
- The United Nations has described the situation as “on the verge of imminent disaster”.
Continuing the achievement of the journey of effectiveness and credibility of more than 10 years in the career of journalism, as a woman journalist, I am Serving as the founder, promoter and editor of DiaryTimes with the trust and support of all. My credible coverage may not have given a big shape to the numbers, but my journey presents articles that make you aware of the exact and meaningful situations of Himachal’s politics, ground issues related to the public, business, tourism and the difficult geographical conditions of the state and financial awareness. DiaryTimes, full of the experience of my precise editorial expertise, is awakening the flame of credible journalism among all of you, so that the eternal flame of meaningful change can be lit in the life of the people of the state and the atrocities being committed against the people can be brought to the fore, I am motivated for that. If even a small change comes with the power of my journalism and the whole world becomes a witness to that issues, then I will consider myself fortunate.
