Israel has reported the death of a senior Hezbollah military official following an Israeli airstrike on Beirut, as the death toll reached at least 37, with numerous people wounded after Hezbollah attacked northern Israel with 140 rockets. This clash marks a new phase of escalation between the two adversaries, raising concerns of a potential full-scale war in the Middle East. The recent attacks come after incidents in Lebanon where communication devices exploded across the nation, resulting in 37 fatalities and over 3,400 injuries.
Israel and Hezbollah have engaged in recurrent confrontations since Hamas initiated an assault on southern Israel on October 7, triggering a severe Israeli military response in Gaza. The Gaza Health Ministry reported more than 41,000 Palestinian casualties in the territory during the almost year-long Israel-Hamas conflict. Although the ministry did not distinguish between combatants and civilians, it noted that over half of the deceased were women and children. Israel asserted to have eliminated over 17,000 militants without presenting evidence.
In the latest development, Hezbollah declared launching an attack on an Israeli military base near Haifa early Sunday, utilizing a new missile type. The Israeli military stated about ten rockets were launched from Lebanon, most of which were intercepted. In return, Israel struck over 400 rocket launchers in Lebanon. Amidst this tit-for-tat violence, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan labeled the reported death of Hezbollah commander Ibrahim Akil as a positive development. Akil was a key target of the Israeli strike in Beirut on Friday.
Moreover, Iran unveiled a new ballistic missile called Jahad during a military parade, with a reported range of over 600 miles, potentially reaching Israel. Meanwhile, Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati announced his decision not to attend the U.N. General Assembly due to ongoing violence with Israel. He emphasized the need to halt the massacres by Israel and called for international laws to prevent civilian technological devices from being used for military purposes.
The United Nations human rights chief condemned the weaponization of ordinary communication devices, as seen in Lebanon, as a violation of international human rights law. The Office called for an independent investigation into the attacks targeting Lebanese individuals, allegedly orchestrated by Israel. Amid escalating tensions and violence in the region, the international community is closely monitoring the situation and urging all parties to exercise restraint and prioritize peace.
