Israeli forces have intensified their attacks on Hezbollah positions in Beirut and continued bombardments in Gaza following retaliatory rocket strikes from Hezbollah. The Lebanese group reportedly fired rockets into northern Israel, with Israeli officials claiming a drone targeted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s vacation home, although he was not present during the incident. Israeli officials labeled this an assassination attempt led by Hezbollah, warning that the group had committed a “grave mistake.”
The Israeli military escalated its operations on Saturday, claiming to target Hezbollah’s weapons storage and intelligence sites in the southern suburbs of Beirut. The strikes produced thick black smoke over the city in response to the 200 rockets fired by Hezbollah earlier that day. This attack marks another escalation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which has intensified since Israel’s military actions against Hamas in Gaza began over a year ago.
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In Gaza, the situation has reached critical levels, with Israeli airstrikes causing significant devastation. The latest attacks resulted in over 100 reported deaths, and the blockade around three hospitals has tightened, restricting vital medical supplies and services. The United Nations estimates that more than 75,000 individuals have been displaced in Gaza this month, worsening the humanitarian crisis.
Despite international calls for de-escalation, including requests from U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for Israel to reduce its strikes, Israeli operations continued. The conflict, which began in October 2023, has resulted in over 42,500 Palestinian fatalities and significant casualties for Hezbollah, including the targeting of high-level commanders. The situation remains precarious as Israel persists in its military actions against both Hezbollah and Hamas.
