Escalating Conflicts: Israel’s Strikes in Lebanon and Gaza
Confusion and Chaos in Beirut
Hundreds of Beirut residents fled their homes late on Sunday after multiple explosions were heard across the Lebanese capital, as Israel prepared to attack sites linked to the financial operations of Lebanon’s Hezbollah group and told people to leave those areas immediately.
Reuters witnesses saw dense plumes of black smoke billowing in the air after at least 10 blasts. Eyewitnesses, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said a building located in the Chiyah neighborhood in the southern suburbs of Beirut was reduced to rubble and the few people in the area had fled ahead of the explosion, resulting in no casualties.
Israel’s Military Operations
An Israeli military spokesperson said earlier in a statement posted on social media platform X that it "will begin attacking infrastructure belonging to the Hezbollah Al-Qard Al-Hassan Association – get away from it immediately." Al-Qard al-Hassan, which the U.S. has said is used by Iran-backed Hezbollah to manage its finances, has more than 30 branches across Lebanon, including 15 in densely populated parts of central Beirut and its suburbs.
Cross-Border Fighting
Cross-border fighting between Israel and Hezbollah erupted a year ago when the group began launching rockets in support of Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza. At the start of October, Israel launched a ground assault inside Lebanon in an attempt to stabilize the border region for its citizens who had fled rocket attacks in northern Israel.
Escalated Attacks
Israel has intensified its military campaigns both in Gaza and Lebanon, days after the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar raised hopes of an opening for ceasefire negotiations to end more than a year of conflict. With U.S. elections approaching, officials, diplomats, and other sources in the region say Israel is seeking through military operations to try to shield its borders and ensure its rivals cannot regroup. Israel is also preparing to retaliate for an Iranian missile barrage earlier this month, though Washington has pressed it not to strike Iranian energy facilities or nuclear sites.
Recent Strikes and Casualties
Earlier on Sunday, Israel said it hit Hezbollah’s intelligence headquarters and an underground weapons workshop in Beirut. Fighter jets killed three Hezbollah commanders, the Israeli military said. Hezbollah made no immediate comment on those strikes, but said it had fired missiles at Israeli forces in Lebanon and at a base in northern Israel. A 41-year-old Israeli colonel was killed, and another officer was wounded in combat in northern Gaza on Sunday, the Israeli military said.
Consequences and Displacement
The strike came two weeks into a major assault around Jabalia, just south of Beit Lahiya, where Israel says its troops have been trying to root out remaining Hamas fighters. According to the health ministry, 87 people were left dead or missing on Saturday, one of the highest death tolls for months from a single attack. Over the last year, Lebanese officials estimate that more than 2,400 people have been killed and more than 1.2 million people displaced in Lebanon. Fifty-nine people have been killed in northern Israel and the occupied Golan Heights over the same period, say Israeli authorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the purpose of Israel’s military strikes in Lebanon and Gaza?
A: Israel says it is targeting the financial infrastructure of Hezbollah and Hamas to prevent them from rebuilding and rearming in the future.
Q: How many people have been killed in the conflict?
A: According to various sources, more than 9,000 people have been killed and more than 2 million people displaced in Gaza, while in Lebanon, over 2,400 people have been killed and more than 1.2 million people have been displaced.
Q: What is the current situation in Gaza?
A: The Gaza Strip has been under Israeli-Egyptian blockade since 2007, limiting the movement of goods and people in and out of the territory. The conflict has left more than 42,500 people dead and has made most of Gaza’s 2.3 million people homeless.