Israel-Hezbollah, Lebanon’s Longest and Bloodiest Day: Escalation Update

The escalation between Israel and Hezbollah intensifies, with a wave of raids and an all-out attack by Tel Aviv. It was For Lebanon, the longest and bloodiest day, the worst in almost 12 months since October 8 of last year when hostilities began on the border between the Jewish state and the Land of Cedars. Skirmishes triggered by Hezbollah’s support for Hamas, which the previous day had attacked Israel and unleashed the military campaign of Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip.

Since the early hours of yesterday, the IDF has confirmed a long series of attacks against Hezbollah sites, including homes where – according to the Israeli military – weapons for the Party of God were stored. Civilians, in the south and also in the Bekaa Valley, were asked by Israeli forces to abandon buildings with missiles, rockets and other weapons stored inside them. 1,300 Hezbollah targets hit so far in raids said IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari, anticipating that “there will be challenging days.” The raids continue, he added. Among the targets hit are cruise missiles “capable of striking hundreds of kilometers away,” rockets with thousand-kilogram warheads, missiles and drones.

The Chief of Staff of the IDF military forces, Herzi Halevi, explained in the meantime that the raids had involved dismantled capabilities built by Hezbollah in 20 years. “This was a proactive defensive operation. We are taking away the infrastructure that Hezbollah has been building for 20 years. This is very significant,” he said, adding: “We are hitting targets, preparing the next phases… everything must be aimed at creating the conditions for the displaced people in the north to return to their homes.”

The victims? For Hagari there were “numerous terrorists who were near the weapons systems”. But in the meantime the Lebanese Ministry of Health is drawing a devastating provisional balance sheet and constantly evolving: there are 492 dead, including at least 24 children and 42 women, and at least 1,645 injured. The situation, it is specified, remains fluid since the authorities have not yet concluded the assessment of the impact of the attacks. The Lebanese bulletin does not distinguish between Hezbollah men and civilians. However, the ministry specified in the morning that the toll included “children, women and paramedics”.

For Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Miqati, the Israeli raids are “a destructive plan aimed at destroying Lebanese villages and localities”, they are a “war of extermination”.

Meanwhile, thousands of families are fleeing from southern LebanonThey are heading towards the capital Beirut and the areas of Mount Lebanon to abandon the southern areas of the country after the raids: the Dpa agency reported queues of cars along the roads connecting Tyre to Beirut, cars full of women and children queuing to enter the capital from the south.

A woman fleeing in a car speaks of raids “everywhere.”We don’t know where to go, but it’s better to come to the capital“, summarizes a man in the car. A Lebanese government source meanwhile accuses Israel of “trying to create a displacement crisis to increase pressure on Hezbollah” in a Lebanon that is dealing with its most serious economic crisis ever.

Near Beirut, empty schools have been set up to accommodate displaced people from the south. Education Minister Abbas al-Halabi confirmed that some schools in Mount Lebanon and areas on the outskirts of Beirut have opened their doors to displaced people.

One of Hezbollah’s top officials killed, mystery surrounding Shiite number 3

In the raids, Sheikh Ali Abu Riya, a top Hezbollah official, was killed, Sky News Arabia reports citing several sources. Abu Riya was the deputy head of Hezbollah’s Executive Council.

The fate of Ali Karaki, the number three of the Shiite terrorist organization and responsible for military activities in southern Lebanon, is still a mystery: he was killed “in the southern suburbs of Beirut”, claims the broadcaster Sky News Arabia, citing a Lebanese military source. Hezbollah, which denies that he was injured, says he is alive. According to Haaretz, Karaki has been transferred to a safe place.

In the Israeli raids against southern Lebanon and the Bekaa region yesterday, two Hezbollah clerics were also killed, the Saudi broadcaster al-Hadath reported, reported by Tass. They are Abdul Moneim Mahna and Amin Saad, who was killed in Bint Jbeil.

Hamas commander dead

Hamas’ armed wing meanwhile says its field commander Mahmoud Al Nader was also killed today in an Israeli air strike in southern Lebanon.

Netanyahu warns: ‘We don’t wait for a threat, we anticipate it’

“We are facing difficult days. I promised that we would change the balance of power in the north and that is exactly what we are doing,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during a meeting at the Defense Ministry headquarters with Yoav Gallant and Chief of Staff Halevi to assess the situation regarding the escalation in Lebanon.

“For those who have not yet understood, I want to clarify Israel’s policy,” Netanyahu then said: “We do not wait for a threat, we anticipate it. Everywhere, in every theater, at any time.”

“Everyone is a target,” the Israeli prime minister then said, referring to Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, during the meeting, according to the Israeli news site YNet.

Netanyahu meanwhile appealed to the Lebanese to “move away from the danger zones,” warning them that Hezbollah is using them “as human shields”: “Israel is not at war with you,” the prime minister said. “Please move away from the danger zones immediately, now. Once our operation is over, you can return home safely,” he said in English in a video broadcast shortly after the Israeli army announced it had hit “about 800” Hezbollah targets in Lebanon.

“Hezbollah has been using you as human shields for too long. It has placed rockets in your living rooms and missiles in your garages. Do not let Hezbollah endanger your lives and the lives of your loved ones,” he said in the video.

The Israeli government has meanwhile declared a “special situation” in the country, a term used in times of emergency that grants authorities the power to impose restrictions on the civilian population to ensure security, Israeli media reported, according to which the “special situation” will last for 48 hours unless it is extended further. No changes to the IDF instructions on the domestic front have been announced.

Biden working on de-escalation. US reinforcements in the Middle East

“My team has been in constant contact with our counterparts and we are working towards a de-escalation that allows people to return to their homes safely,” US President Joe Biden told reporters ahead of a meeting at the White House with United Arab Emirates President Mohammed bin Zayed.

The United States is presenting “concrete” ideas to ease the crisis in Lebanon, a U.S. official said, CGTN reports, expressing U.S. opposition to an Israeli ground invasion to target Hezbollah.

“In light of the heightened tensions in the Middle East, and out of an abundance of caution, we are sending a small number of additional troops to augment our forces that are already in the region,” Pentagon spokesman Major General Patrick Ryder said in a statement, announcing the deployment of US reinforcements to the Middle East, CNN reported, without providing further details on the number of troops sent, which corps they will be assigned to, or where they will be sent. “For operational security reasons, I will not be making any further comments,” he said.