- Hezbollah deputy chief Naim Qassem issued a defiant message saying the group has entered “a new phase” in its confrontation with Israel. Qassem made his comments following Israeli attacks on northern Lebanon that targeted Hezbollah strongholds, resulting in extensive damage and numerous casualties.
- Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant reiterated Israel’s commitment to ensuring the safety of its northern residents, saying, “Military action will continue until we reach a point where we can ensure the safe return of Israel’s northern communities to their homes.” With both sides hardening their stances, army chief Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi vowed that Israel would “strike at anyone who threatens” its citizens.
- The United States, Israel’s biggest ally, has urged restraint. President Joe Biden stressed that military escalation is not in Israel’s “best interest” and that the US is working tirelessly to prevent a wider conflict. “We will do everything we can to prevent a wider war,” Biden said.
- United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres expressed similar concerns, warning of the risk of Lebanon becoming “another Gaza” amid the ongoing Gaza conflict.
- Over the weekend Hezbollah fired a barrage of rockets that reached Kiryat Bialik, near Israel’s largest northern city Haifa, causing damage to infrastructure and raising fears of further escalation of tensions. In retaliation, Israel attacked Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon, including an airbase and military production facilities. The firing prompted Israel’s civil defense agency to order the closure of schools in the north.
- Lebanon’s health ministry said three people were killed in Israeli attacks in the south, while Hezbollah confirmed two of its fighters were killed. The Israeli military said more than 150 rockets, missiles and drones were fired from Lebanon into its territory overnight.
- Recent Israeli air strikes, including one on Beirut’s densely populated Dahiyah neighborhood, killed Ibrahim Aqel, the head of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force.
- Hezbollah has indicated it will not back down, with Qassem saying the group is prepared to face “all military possibilities.” This comes as Israel continues to target Hezbollah’s military infrastructure in an attempt to prevent the group from expanding its influence along the Israeli-Lebanese border.
- Despite mediation efforts by Qatar, Egypt and the United States, the conflict shows no sign of abating. Efforts to secure a ceasefire and facilitate the release of hostages have stalled, with Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelati indicating that the situation between Israel and Hezbollah is negatively affecting efforts to stabilise Gaza.
- The United Nations has described the situation as “on the verge of imminent disaster”.
