On Thursday, Israeli airstrikes targeted central Beirut, killing 22 people and injuring more than 100, according to Lebanese authorities. The strikes occurred as tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group, continue to escalate. Three security sources confirmed that the strikes were part of an attempt by Israel to assassinate a senior Hezbollah official, who narrowly evaded the attack.
The incident has further heightened tensions in Lebanon, where Hezbollah has a significant presence. In the southern part of the country, two United Nations peacekeepers were injured when an Israeli tank fired at a watchtower near the U.N.’s main base in Naqoura. The U.N. has expressed increasing concern for the safety of its personnel in the region, warning that their security is becoming increasingly precarious as hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah intensify.
The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah reignited a year ago, when the Lebanese group, which receives support from Iran, opened fire in coordination with Palestinian militant group Hamas during the onset of the Gaza war. Since then, the conflict has expanded beyond Gaza, bringing southern Lebanon into the arena of confrontation. The U.N. and other international bodies have been calling for restraint on both sides, but clashes have continued, leading to civilian casualties and heightened instability in the region.
The latest strikes mark a significant escalation, not only in terms of the number of casualties but also in the geographical scope of the conflict, as central Beirut has become the latest focal point of military activity. The region, already suffering from years of political and economic turmoil, now faces an even graver humanitarian crisis due to the ongoing violence.
As both Israel and Hezbollah continue to engage in military actions, the potential for a broader regional conflict looms large. The international community has been urging both sides to de-escalate the situation to avoid further bloodshed, but with each passing day, the prospects for peace seem increasingly distant.