Israeli warplanes conducted their most intense airstrikes on southern Lebanon late Thursday, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict with the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. This surge in violence has raised concerns and calls for restraint from the international community.
The White House emphasized the urgency of achieving a diplomatic resolution, expressing fears over the potential for further escalation. White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre stated that a solution is both achievable and urgent, while the UK called for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
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These latest airstrikes followed earlier attacks attributed to Israel that resulted in the destruction of Hezbollah communication equipment, causing 37 fatalities and around 3,000 injuries in Lebanon. In the late-night operation, Israeli jets reportedly targeted hundreds of multiple-rocket-launcher barrels in southern Lebanon that were poised to launch strikes against Israel.
The bombardment included over 52 separate airstrikes after 9 PM local time, according to Lebanon’s state news agency, NNA. Lebanese security sources noted that these were the heaviest aerial assaults since the conflict reignited in October. While there were no immediate reports of casualties from the latest strikes, Israel’s military confirmed it had targeted around 100 rocket launchers and other positions throughout the day, pledging to continue its operations against Hezbollah.
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In a TV address on Thursday, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said the device explosions on Tuesday and Wednesday “crossed all red lines”.
“The enemy went beyond all controls, laws and morals,” he said, adding the attacks “could be considered war crimes or a declaration of war.”
Israel has not officially addressed the recent detonations of pagers and radios, which security sources suggest may have been orchestrated by its Mossad intelligence agency, known for executing complex operations abroad.
In a letter to the UN Security Council, the Lebanese mission asserted that Israel was behind the explosions, claiming the devices were triggered through electronic messages and explosives placed inside them prior to their arrival in Lebanon. This aligns with speculations that have emerged following the incidents.
The 15-member Security Council is scheduled to convene on Friday to discuss the explosions. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati urged the Council to take a decisive stance against what he termed Israel’s “aggression” and “technological warfare.”
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As Nasrallah’s broadcast aired, deafening sonic booms from Israeli warplanes shook Beirut, a sound that has become common in recent months but has taken on greater significance as the threat of all-out war has ramped up.
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said late on Thursday that Israel will keep up military action against Hezbollah.
“In this new phase of the conflict, there are both considerable opportunities and significant risks,” Gallant stated. He noted that Hezbollah perceives itself as under siege, suggesting that military actions are likely to persist.
“Our objective is to guarantee the safe return of residents in Israel’s northern communities to their homes. As time progresses, Hezbollah will face escalating consequences,” Gallant added.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gathered his top ministers for discussions, according to Israel’s Channel 13 News.
On Thursday, the Israeli military reported that two Israeli soldiers lost their lives in combat in the northern region of Israel.
Hezbollah launched missiles at Israel the day after the October 7 cross-border attack by Hamas, which initiated the current Gaza conflict. Since then, both sides have engaged in continuous exchanges of fire, though neither has escalated the situation into a full-scale war. This ongoing conflict has resulted in the evacuation of tens of thousands from border areas on both sides.
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Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah expressed hopes that Israeli troops would enter southern Lebanon, viewing it as a “historic opportunity” for his group. He asserted that no amount of military escalation or violence would prompt Israeli residents to return to the border area.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Commander Hossein Salami warned that Israel would face “a crushing response from the axis of resistance,” referring to a coalition of Iran-aligned militant groups, including Hezbollah, Hamas, and others in the region.
In Paris, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called for restraint, emphasizing the need to avoid actions that could complicate efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza.
The attacks on Hezbollah communications equipment sowed fear across Lebanon, with people abandoning electronic devices for fear of carrying bombs in their pockets.
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Nasrallah reported that thousands of pagers were targeted simultaneously, with some explosions occurring in busy areas such as hospitals, pharmacies, markets, and streets filled with civilians, including women and children.
Israel asserts that its conflict with Hezbollah, similar to its war against Hamas in Gaza, is part of a broader regional struggle against Iran, which backs both groups as well as various armed factions in Syria, Yemen, and Iraq.
Additionally, Israel has faced accusations of conducting assassinations, including a bombing in Tehran that killed the leader of Hamas and another explosion in a Beirut suburb that took the life of a senior Hezbollah commander, both occurring within hours of each other in July.
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