New attack on Thursday
Israel has vowed to press ahead with its operations in Lebanon, insisting that Lebanon is not included in the cease-fire agreement.
Hezbollah launched its latest ground and air attacks on Lebanon last month, after launching a joint attack on Iran and attacks on northern Israel in retaliation for the assassination of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.
The Israel Defense Forces announced on Wednesday that it had carried out at least 100 airstrikes in a short period of 10 minutes, the largest barrage of any military operation to date.
The IDF said it attacked Hezbollah’s headquarters, military arrays and command and control centres, but acknowledged that many of its targets were located in “civilian heartlands” and accused the extremist group of using civilians as human shields, a claim repeated frequently in its devastating attacks on the Gaza Strip.
And the Israeli military launched a new offensive on Thursday, with Hezbollah also attacking northern Israel in retaliation. The militant group said in a statement that “the response will continue” until the attacks on Lebanon cease.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to “continue to attack Hezbollah wherever necessary until complete security is restored to the population of the north.” In a post on
The sudden escalation in violence follows growing concerns over Israel’s pledge to use its deadly military offensive in Gaza as a model for its invasion of south Lebanon.
In an effort to establish a “safe zone” in the region, Israeli forces are destroying a growing number of homes in the south, as well as a bridge over the vital Litani River that connects the south with the rest of the country.
Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz has previously said those forced to evacuate from the south will not be able to return to the area until the safety of Israelis in the north is guaranteed.
Many of the refugees fled to Beirut, but were again exposed to gunfire.
Zoya Awky reported from Zouk Mosbeh and Chantal Da Silva from London.
