Israeli forces intensified their attacks in both the Gaza Strip and Lebanon over the weekend, escalating an already devastating military campaign.
Israeli airstrikes targeted a mosque and a school-turned-shelter in Gaza, leaving 26 dead and dozens more injured, according to the Palestinian health ministry. The Israeli military described the sites as Hamas “command and control centers” but provided no evidence to support the claims.
The Israeli military further declared a “new phase” of its war in Gaza on Sunday, issuing broader evacuation orders that encompass most of the northern part of the enclave, The New York Times reported. Israeli officials stated that additional soldiers and weapons would be sent to Gaza to “destroy terrorist infrastructures and undermine Hamas’ capabilities until all the war’s goals are achieved.”
Al Jazeera’s Moath al-Kahlout reported from the ground that “the situation here in northern Gaza is deteriorating as the Israeli army intensifies its bombing.” He added that the victims included children, women, and journalists. “An entire family was killed by the Israeli army in the overnight attacks,” al-Kahlout noted.
Meanwhile, Israel ramped up its airstrikes on Beirut, carrying out what The Guardian called the “most severe” bombardments on the Lebanese capital to date. The strikes targeted southern Beirut and its suburban outskirts, areas heavily associated with Hezbollah, which has been in the crosshairs of Israeli forces for over two weeks.
Ali Hashem, a journalist for Al Jazeera based in Beirut, described a “massive air strike” that hit near the city’s international airport on Sunday—an area that has been bombarded by Israeli forces for several days. “During the nights there are warnings,” Hashem explained. “During the days there are no warnings.” Hashem added that emergency services had been blocked from accessing many of the targeted suburban areas.
The Lebanese health ministry reported that 23 people were killed and 93 injured in Israeli strikes on Saturday.
The Israeli military’s ground incursion in southern Lebanon also advanced over the weekend. On Sunday, Israeli forces ordered the evacuation of 25 villages, signaling a significant expansion of the offensive, Al Jazeera reported.
Amid the intensifying violence, Filippo Grandi, the United Nations’ high commissioner for refugees, visited Beirut on Sunday and called for a desperately needed cease-fire, emphasizing the urgent need for international humanitarian aid.
‘Increasing Destruction’ as Lebanon Suffers More Bombing
Israel’s attacks continued across Lebanon on Saturday, with 13 airstrikes reported in southern Beirut overnight and another five on Saturday. One of these strikes may have deliberately targeted paramedics, according to Al Jazeera. “There is increasing destruction and it’s clear that complete blocks are being destroyed one after another,” Hashem reported from Beirut.
“One strike hit near the airport, and we understand another missile hit near a paramedic team to prevent them from getting to the scene of the bigger strike,” Hashem added.
The Israeli military had issued evacuation warnings for specific suburbs south of Beirut on Friday, indicating further attacks were imminent, according to The New York Times. Israeli forces launched a “huge strike” on the same area earlier on Friday, targeting Hashem Safieddine, the presumed successor to assassinated Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, according to the Times. Al Jazeera reported that “bunker buster” bombs were likely used in Friday’s attack, similar to those used in Nasrallah’s assassination. While media reports suggested that Safieddine was likely killed, there was no immediate confirmation.
Israeli airstrikes also continued in southern Lebanon throughout the day on Saturday. “From northern Israel, I can see dark gray clouds of dust and smoke rising above two [Lebanese] villages as warplanes zoom overhead and the sound of artillery echoes through the area,” reported The New York Times’ Natan Odenheimer.
In another strike, the Israeli military killed Hamas commander Saeed Ali in northern Lebanon on Saturday, according to a statement from Hamas. The group, which maintains a significant presence in Lebanon, confirmed Ali’s death.
According to Al Jazeera, citing Israeli media, the Israeli military is planning to broaden its ground incursion into southern Lebanon and prepare for “large-scale assaults” on Lebanon, Iran, and Gaza. The outlet, however, did not provide further details on the scale or timing of these planned operations.
On Tuesday, Iran retaliated by firing nearly 200 ballistic missiles at Israeli military installations. The Iranian government stated the missile barrage was in response to Israeli assassinations of senior Hamas and Hezbollah leaders. Israeli and U.S. forces intercepted most of the strikes, but tensions continue to escalate.
On Friday, President Joe Biden urged Israel to explore “alternatives” to attacking Iranian oilfields, raising speculation over the next steps in the conflict.
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