Lebanon has been thrust into the epicenter of a widening regional war begun by the unprovoked attack on Iran carried out by Israel and Iran resulting in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader,Ali Khamenei, on February 28.
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Hezbollah, a Lebanese resistance group supported by Iran, began a series of cross-border exchanges, which quickly transformed into a high-stakes military confrontation, marked by Israeli ground incursions, intensive aerial bombardments, and a landmark—yet controversial—decision by the Lebanese government to ban Hezbollah’s military activities.
The current wave of Israeli attacks surged after Hezbollah launched a high-profile missile attack on an Israeli military installation, citing “retaliation” for the killing of Khamenei. While Hezbollah’s domestic critics accuse the group of dragging Lebanon into a “war that is not its own,” some military analysts suggest the group’s recent maneuvers, including a strike on the Haifa Naval Base with “qualitative missiles,” represent a preemptive attempt to secure political leverage before an eventual regional settlement.
Hezbollah claimed responsibility for 13 separate attacks on Tuesday, asserting it destroyed at least five Israeli tanks and targeted key strategic sites, including the Ramat David Airbase and the Meron Air Surveillance Center using suicide drones.
Israel has responded with overwhelming force through “Operation Northern Arrows.”Defense Minister Yoav Gallant(and successorIsrael Katz) signaled a shift from containment to territorial control, instructing the IDF to seize strategic positions in southern Lebanon to prevent attacks on northern Israeli communities.
The IDF reported conducting “simultaneous strikes” on 60 targets across Beirut and as far as Tehran. In Southern Lebanon, Israeli forces have reportedly crossed the border in at least four sectors, establishing “advanced defensive” positions. Reports indicate that Israeli troops have entered the town of Al-Qouzah, occupying former Lebanese Army outposts, and are advancing toward the strategic town of Khiam.
The human cost of the escalation is mounting rapidly. The Lebanese Ministry of Health reported that recent strikes on Mount Lebanon, Baalbek, and the Southern Suburbs (Dahiyeh) killed at least 11 people on Wednesday morning alone, following a devastating Tuesday that saw 50 fatalities and hundreds of injuries.
The violence has triggered a massive displacement crisis with over 58,000 Lebanese citizens having fled their homes.
Source: Global Research
