Israel initiated a fresh series of airstrikes across Lebanon on Monday following an exchange of fire with Hezbollah, with both sides accusing each other of breaching a ceasefire that had only recently begun.
The airstrikes resulted in a death toll of at least 11 individuals in Lebanon, marking the most significant military response from Israel since the ceasefire with Hezbollah went into effect. Hezbollah reported that it commenced firing projectiles into Israel, representing its first offensive action against Israeli forces since the 60-day ceasefire was established the previous Wednesday.
Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, issued a strong warning on Tuesday, suggesting that should the ceasefire fail, Israel’s military actions may extend beyond areas heavily populated with Hezbollah forces and include strikes against the Lebanese state itself.
In the U.S., President-elect Donald Trump called for the immediate release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, threatening consequences if they are not freed before he assumes office in January.
The tensions in the region have been fueled by Hezbollah’s support for Hamas since last year, with the Lebanese militant group launching rockets and missiles into Israel, aligning itself with Hamas engaging in combat within the Gaza Strip. This recent conflict began when Hamas-linked militants entered southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 individuals, primarily civilians, and the abduction of around 250 hostages.
In retaliation, Israel’s extensive military campaign has reportedly resulted in the deaths of over 44,429 Palestinians, with more than half of those casualties being women and children; this information comes from Gaza’s Health Ministry, which doesn’t disclose the number of combatants among the deceased. Israel, in its statements, claims to have eliminated over 17,000 militants, although this assertion lacks supporting evidence.
The conflict has devastated large areas of the Gaza Strip and forcibly displaced around 90% of the 2.3 million people living there, often multiple times due to ongoing hostilities.
Israel, in a recent statement regarding the fragile ceasefire, reiterated warnings to the Lebanese state. Following the deadly airstrikes, Defense Minister Katz emphasized a stringent response to any violations by Hezbollah, stating that Israel would no longer spare the Lebanese state if hostilities resume.
Over the course of the 14-month confrontation that concluded last week with a ceasefire brokered by the U.S. and France, Israel predominantly avoided targeting key infrastructure or the Lebanese armed forces, who had largely stayed neutral in the conflict.
Following the recent attacks, Lebanese Parliamentary Speaker Nabih Berri condemned Israel, claiming its actions have violated the truce more than 50 times by launching airstrikes and infringing upon Lebanese airspace. Berri, a known ally of Hezbollah, was instrumental in mediating the ceasefire agreement.
In another development, Israeli airstrikes in the northern West Bank have reportedly resulted in the deaths of two Palestinians. Israel’s military described the operation as targeting a militant cell near Al-Aqaba in the Jordan Valley; further details were not disclosed. The Palestinian Health Ministry confirmed the fatalities while reporting that a third individual was injured in the strikes.
Since the onset of renewed conflict following Hamas’ surprise attack on October 7, 2023, around 800 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli military actions in the West Bank. The Israeli government claims these military operations are essential to prevent further attacks against Israeli citizens, which have surged recently.
Additionally, Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon made his first public appearance since a severe injury sustained in a mid-September attack involving exploding pagers. Mojtaba Amani returned to Beirut after receiving medical treatment in Iran and visited a site south of Beirut linked to the recent airstrikes that killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and others.
Amani described Israel’s actions as deserving of “the highest medal for sabotage, terrorism, blood, and killing civilians,” following the devastation of six buildings due to the airstrike. He also discussed the injuries he sustained when a pager he was holding exploded, as part of a coordinated attack that resulted in the deaths and injuries of many Hezbollah members. In total, around 37 people were killed, and over 3,000 were wounded in the series of explosive events, leading to concerns regarding civilian safety and military actions in the region.
A spokesperson from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office had previously indicated that the pager attack was sanctioned by the Prime Minister himself.
