An Israeli airstrike in Beirut on Tuesday claimed the life of senior Hezbollah commander Ibrahim Qubaisi, amid an escalation of cross-border rocket attacks that have raised fears of a potential full-scale war in the Middle East. Lebanon has called on Washington to step in and help resolve the conflict.
Hezbollah confirmed on Wednesday that Qubaisi, who led the group’s missile and rocket division, was killed in the airstrike, which Israel had previously announced. Meanwhile, Lebanese Health Minister Firass Abiad told that Israeli strikes have killed 569 people, including 50 children, and left 1,835 wounded since the offensive began on Monday.
The increased military action against Hezbollah has heightened concerns that the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, which has lasted nearly a year, could destabilize the broader region. In response, the UK advised its citizens to leave Lebanon and has moved 700 troops to Cyprus to aid in evacuations.
The UN Security Council plans to convene on Wednesday to address the growing violence. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued a stark warning, stating, “Lebanon is on the brink. The people of Lebanon, Israel, and the world cannot afford for Lebanon to turn into another Gaza.”
At the UN General Assembly, US President Joe Biden urged restraint, warning that a full-scale war is not in anyone’s interest and that diplomacy remains an option despite the rising tensions.
Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib expressed disappointment with Biden’s remarks, calling them “weak” and insisting that the United States is the only country capable of making a significant impact in the region, given its close ties and military support to Israel. Speaking at an event hosted by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in New York, Bou Habib said, “The United States holds the key to our salvation.”
In Beirut, thousands of people displaced from southern Lebanon have taken refuge in schools and public buildings. At the Technical Institute of Bir Hassan, volunteers distributed essentials such as water, food, and medicine. Rima Ali Chahine, 50, said the conditions were tough on the displaced families, particularly the children, who were exhausted and stressed.
In the early hours of Wednesday, Israeli airstrikes targeted the coastal town of Jiyyeh, 75 kilometers north of the Israeli border, according to security sources.
Israel declared that Hezbollah had suffered significant setbacks, with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stating that the group’s command structure, fighters, and military capabilities had been weakened. Israel’s military confirmed widespread strikes on Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon, targeting arms depots and rocket launchers.
In retaliation, Hezbollah said it had launched rockets at Israel’s Dado military base and the Atlit naval base south of Haifa, using drones in the attack. Meanwhile, suspected Israeli missiles targeted the Syrian port city of Tartous, though Syrian air defenses intercepted them, according to Syrian military sources.
The conflict comes as Israel continues its intensified air campaign, targeting Iran-aligned militant groups and their arms shipments in Syria, actions that have ramped up since the Gaza war began in October.
Amid the escalating violence, funerals were held on Tuesday for victims of Israeli bombardment in Lebanon. In the coastal city of Saksakiyeh, grieving father Mohammed Helal vowed defiance as he mourned his daughter Jouri, saying, “We are not afraid, no matter what they do to us.”
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