An Israeli airstrike on Beirut killed senior Hezbollah commander Ibrahim Qubaisi on Tuesday as cross-border rocket attacks intensified, heightening fears of a broader Middle East conflict. Hezbollah confirmed Qubaisi’s death, noting he headed the group’s missile and rocket force.
Since Israel’s renewed offensive began on Monday, it has killed 569 people, including 50 children, and injured 1,835 in Lebanon, according to Health Minister Firass Abiad. This escalation has raised concerns that the conflict, nearly a year after fighting between Israel and Hamas began in Gaza, may further destabilize the region.
Read Moore: Israeli Airstrikes Result in Over 492 Fatalities; Thousands of Residents Forced to Evacuate, Lebanon Report
Britain has advised its nationals to leave Lebanon, positioning 700 troops in Cyprus for potential evacuation support. The UN Security Council is scheduled to meet on Wednesday to address the crisis. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that Lebanon is “on the brink,” emphasizing the global ramifications of further conflict.
U.S. President Joe Biden called for diplomacy in his address at the UN General Assembly, warning that “full-scale war is not in anyone’s interest.” However, Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib criticized Biden’s comments as insufficient, stressing that only the U.S. has the influence to mediate peace. Washington is a key ally and arms supplier to Israel.
Meanwhile, displaced families in Beirut, particularly at makeshift shelters like the Technical Institute of Bir Hassan, are facing dire conditions as Israeli strikes continue. An early Wednesday airstrike hit the coastal town of Jiyyeh, about 75 kilometers north of the Israeli border, further fueling the humanitarian crisis.
Israel claims its attacks have significantly weakened Hezbollah by targeting key military assets and vowed to continue its strikes. Hezbollah, however, responded with rocket fire on Israeli military bases and drones targeting sites in northern Israel. Israel has also conducted missile strikes in Syria, targeting Iran-aligned armed groups, though many were intercepted by Syrian air defenses.
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian urged the international community to secure a ceasefire and prevent the conflict from engulfing the region.
