Israel attacks north Lebanon and kills a Hamas leader in new airstrikes

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has reached new levels of intensity as Israeli airstrikes have broadened to target areas in northern Lebanon, including major cities like Beirut and Tripoli. The Israeli military's offensive against Hezbollah, which initially concentrated on southern Lebanon, has now expanded significantly, with bombings reported near Beirut's international airport and in other strategic locations across the country. Among the key casualties of these strikes was Saeed Atallah, a high-ranking leader of Hamas' armed wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, who was killed along with three family members in Tripoli. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have not yet officially commented on this particular strike, though Hezbollah-affiliated media confirmed the deaths.

The escalation has been marked by heavy Israeli artillery shelling and clashes along Lebanon's southern border. Hezbollah reported that Israeli forces attempted to infiltrate the town of Odaisseh, sparking intense fighting. Concurrently, Israeli airstrikes targeted a Hezbollah headquarters near a mosque in southern Lebanon, which, according to Israeli military sources, was being used by the militant group to coordinate attacks. Despite these developments, the fate of senior Hezbollah figure Hashem Safieddine remains unclear following reports that he may have been targeted in an earlier strike. Safieddine is seen as a potential successor to Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah, adding to the uncertainty surrounding his current status. 

These actions are occurring in the context of heightened regional tensions, with Iran vocally supporting Hezbollah and vowing to retaliate against any further Israeli aggression. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a rare Friday sermon, made sweeping declarations that Israel’s time was limited, calling for the mobilization of regional allies to resist Israeli advances. Khamenei urged Hezbollah and other anti-Israel factions in the region to intensify their efforts, warning that any step by Israel against Iran would lead to an even harsher response. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi echoed these sentiments during visits to Lebanon and Syria, where he reaffirmed Iran’s backing of Hezbollah and Lebanon in the face of Israeli strikes.

Meanwhile, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz took to social media to issue a pointed warning to Iran, tweeting a picture of Nasrallah and Safieddine and challenging Iran’s leadership to withdraw its proxy forces from Lebanon. This rhetoric underlines the broader geopolitical stakes, with Israel also reportedly weighing its options in response to Iran’s recent ballistic missile attack, which Tehran claims was in retaliation for the Israeli military’s actions in Lebanon. Though speculation persists about Israel’s potential next steps, US President Joe Biden has signaled that Israel has yet to finalize its response, while cautioning against direct strikes on Iranian assets, such as oil fields.

On the humanitarian front, the crisis is deepening. The Lebanese Ministry of Health has reported that over 2,000 people, including 127 children and 261 women, have been killed since the onset of Israel’s expanded military operations, with over 1.2 million Lebanese civilians displaced from their homes. The US government announced nearly $157 million in new aid to support displaced populations in Lebanon and neighboring regions, including those fleeing the escalating conflict in Syria. Despite the humanitarian relief efforts, the scale of the crisis continues to overwhelm local and international organizations, with mounting civilian casualties and widespread destruction in southern and northern Lebanon alike.

In a parallel conflict, the US military, supported by British forces, launched strikes against Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, targeting key military outposts. This development highlights the wider regional instability, as multiple fronts of conflict converge across the Middle East. 

Back in the US, President Biden was drawn into the conversation about the broader implications of the conflict, particularly regarding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's actions. When asked if Netanyahu might be using the conflict to influence the upcoming US election, Biden expressed uncertainty but reiterated that no administration had done more to support Israel than his. This comment reflects the complexity of the US-Israel relationship, especially as tensions between Israel and its regional adversaries escalate.

In Gaza, the situation remains dire, with the Palestinian Health Ministry reporting over 41,825 Palestinian deaths and nearly 97,000 wounded since Israel launched its military offensive following the events of October 7. The humanitarian situation in Gaza mirrors that of Lebanon, with relentless airstrikes and ground operations causing widespread devastation and overwhelming local health infrastructure. Both conflicts underscore the volatile and multifaceted nature of the ongoing Middle East crisis, with no clear resolution in sight.