Israel Bombs Southern Suburb of Beirut Again and Hezbollah Responds
Tensions in the Middle East escalated as Israel launched a series of new airstrikes early Wednesday targeting the southern suburb of the Lebanese capital, Beirut, in an attack it claimed was aimed at Hezbollah positions.
Lebanese state media reported that one of the strikes was "intense" and targeted the Al-Lailaki area in the southern suburb, while footage showed thick columns of smoke rising from the targeted area, indicating the severity of the bombardment.
In response, the Israeli army announced that it had begun a "wave of airstrikes" targeting what it described as Hezbollah's military infrastructure within the suburb.
* Escalation After Khamenei's Assassination
This escalation came days after the war in the Middle East widened following the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in American-Israeli airstrikes, an event that prompted Hezbollah to open a front with Israel in support of Iran, according to the party's announcement.
Since then, Israel has continued to carry out strikes in various areas of Lebanon, despite a ceasefire agreement reached in 2024, and has conducted ground incursions in some border areas.
* Hezbollah's Response
In turn, Hezbollah announced that its fighters had carried out attacks against "gatherings of the Israeli army" in the border towns of Khyam and Adaisseh in southern Lebanon, and launched rockets towards sites inside Israel, including a missile defense site south of Haifa.
The party also stated that its members clashed with an Israeli force near the border town of Aitaroun using light and medium weapons.
* Casualties and Injuries in Southern Lebanon
As the airstrikes continued, the Lebanese Ministry of Health announced casualties in several areas of the south.
Repeated Israeli airstrikes on the town of Qana in the Tyre district resulted in the deaths of five people and injuries to five others, while three people, including a paramedic, were killed in the nearby town of Hanawiya.
* Widespread Displacement
As the bombardment continued, the Lebanese government's Disaster Management Unit revealed that the war had caused a wave of widespread displacement.
The number of self-registered displaced persons since March 2 has reached approximately 759,300, including more than 122,000 displaced individuals currently residing in official shelters overseen by the government.
This escalation comes at a time when international entities warn of the widening scope of the war in the region, with increasing confrontations between Israel and Hezbollah and the potential for other parties to be drawn into the conflict.
