The Israeli military has launched a wave of airstrikes in Lebanon, marking a dangerous escalation in the already volatile Middle East conflict. The latest bombardments, targeting Hezbollah strongholds in southern and eastern Lebanon, have killed over 100 people and injured hundreds more, pushing the region closer to all-out war. This intensification of Israeli military action is taking place as U.S. weapons continue to flow into the region, with the Biden administration reaffirming its unwavering support for Israel.
The airstrikes come just days after Israel’s mass detonation of communication devices in Lebanon, which killed dozens and left thousands wounded. The Lebanese Health Ministry, overwhelmed by the influx of casualties, has ordered hospitals in southern Lebanon to postpone elective surgeries to make room for those injured in the ongoing bombardments. As tensions mount, the health ministry warns that more attacks may be on the horizon.
At least 100 Lebanese civilians were killed in the most recent strikes, with over 700 others wounded, according to local health officials. Israel’s military described the airstrikes as an “extensive” campaign against Hezbollah, the political party and paramilitary group that wields significant influence in Lebanon. The strikes have targeted Hezbollah weapons sites in residential areas of southern Lebanon and the eastern Bekaa Valley, where the group was founded with Iranian support in 1982.
Hezbollah responded to the Israeli bombardment by firing around 150 rockets into northern Israel, most of which were intercepted by Israeli defense systems. The group described the rocket fire as an “initial” response to Israel’s recent actions, particularly the detonation of communication devices that killed 39 people and injured thousands more. While Israeli officials have framed the bombing campaign as a preemptive attack, Hezbollah leaders have vowed continued retaliation, further heightening the risk of regional escalation.
The evacuation warnings issued by Israeli forces are reminiscent of the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war, which left much of southern Lebanon devastated. This time, however, the conflict is spreading faster and deeper into Lebanese territory, with Israeli airstrikes reaching as far as Byblos, 80 miles north of the Israeli border. Thousands of Lebanese civilians have fled their homes, jamming highways leading to Beirut in one of the largest exoduses since the 2006 conflict.
As Israeli airstrikes intensify, the role of U.S. military aid in enabling these operations has come under scrutiny. The Biden administration has expressed consistent support for Israel’s military actions, with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin reiterating the country’s right to defend itself against Hezbollah attacks. In a recent conversation with his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant, Austin stressed the importance of diplomacy but did not indicate any shift in U.S. policy or military aid to Israel.
Despite calls for diplomatic solutions, analysts argue that U.S. support is fueling Israel’s escalating military actions. Assal Rad, a Middle East analyst and historian, pointed to the continuous flow of U.S. weapons into Israel as a key factor enabling the ongoing bombardment of both Gaza and Lebanon. “Israel is using the same script in Lebanon that it used to justify the total destruction and mass slaughter in Gaza because they faced no consequences,” said Rad. “U.S. weapons continue to flow, and the media continues to whitewash.”
Israel’s latest attacks on Lebanon follow similar military operations in the Gaza Strip, where thousands of Palestinians have been killed in recent months. As Israel expands its military campaign to Lebanon, fears are growing that the conflict will escalate into a full-scale regional war. The presence of U.S.-supplied weapons has emboldened Israeli leaders, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signaling that the strikes on Lebanon are only the beginning. “If Hezbollah didn’t get the message, I promise you, they will,” Netanyahu warned on Sunday.
The humanitarian toll of Israel’s bombardment has been devastating. Hospitals across southern Lebanon have been overwhelmed by the number of injured civilians, while the Lebanese government is preparing shelters for the thousands who have been displaced. Schools and universities across the country have been ordered to close, as airstrikes and rocket fire continue to rain down on residential areas.
The United Nations and international human rights groups have expressed alarm over the rising civilian death toll and the destruction of critical infrastructure in Lebanon. António Guterres, secretary-general of the U.N., warned that Lebanon risks becoming “another Gaza,” a reference to the humanitarian catastrophe in the Palestinian enclave. “This would be a devastating tragedy for the world,” Guterres said in a CNN interview, urging all parties to pursue diplomatic solutions before the conflict spirals further out of control.
Despite the growing humanitarian crisis, Israeli leaders have shown no signs of de-escalating. Netanyahu has emphasized that Israel is prepared to continue its military campaign against Hezbollah until the group is neutralized. Meanwhile, unnamed U.S. officials have expressed agreement with Israel’s strategy in Lebanon, which has been described by one Israeli official as “de-escalation through escalation.” This approach has only deepened concerns that neither Israel nor its U.S. allies have a clear plan for how to exit the conflict.
The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah is not taking place in isolation. Hezbollah’s involvement in Lebanon is closely tied to its alliance with Iran, which has provided the group with military and financial support since its founding. As Hezbollah continues to fire rockets into Israel, there are growing fears that the conflict could expand into a larger regional war, drawing in Iran and other regional powers.
Hezbollah’s actions have been framed as solidarity with Hamas, the Palestinian militant group currently engaged in a bloody conflict with Israel in Gaza. Hezbollah has vowed to continue its attacks on Israel until a ceasefire is achieved in Gaza, but such a resolution appears increasingly elusive. With no diplomatic breakthrough in sight, the risk of a multi-front war involving both Hezbollah and Hamas is becoming more likely by the day.
The conflict has already killed hundreds of people in Lebanon and displaced tens of thousands more. As Assal Rad noted, “U.S. weapons continue to flow, and the media continues to whitewash.”
COMMENTS