Intense Clashes Between Israel and Hezbollah in the Lebanese Bekaa
Lebanon is experiencing unprecedented escalation following an Israeli ground incursion into the town of Nabi Sheet in the Bekaa, coinciding with armed clashes with Hezbollah members.
Continuous Israeli airstrikes over the past five days have resulted in at least 217 deaths and 798 injuries, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health announced yesterday, Friday.
At the same time, about 100,000 Lebanese have fled to collective shelters, amid expectations of a significant increase in the number of displaced people following unprecedented Israeli warnings urging residents to evacuate large areas, including the southern suburbs of Beirut and parts of the eastern Bekaa Valley, where Iran-backed groups are in control.
Imran Riza, the UN humanitarian coordinator in Lebanon, reported that the situation is “unprecedented,” noting the great panic among the population and the uncertainty about where people should go.
Riza said: “As of now, there are about 100,000 people in around 477 collective shelters, and the capacity is being quickly exhausted, which means that the number in shelters will increase rapidly.”
This escalation comes amid a rising war between Israel and Hezbollah, with ongoing Israeli warnings for the evacuation of large areas in southern Lebanon since last Wednesday, and an escalation of bombardment operations that have resulted in significant human losses.
The humanitarian situation in Lebanon is rapidly deteriorating, with increasing numbers of displaced people and casualties, amid a state of panic and chaos sweeping various regions.
