Israel Launches Air Strikes in Lebanon, Hezbollah Fires Rockets at Golan Heights
Israel announced on Tuesday that it had carried out air strikes deep inside Lebanon targeting Hezbollah sites, leading to a retaliatory rocket attack aimed at the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. This escalation in cross-border conflict has raised concerns about the potential for wider warfare in the Middle East, particularly amidst Israel’s ongoing conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli military conducted air strikes near the Lebanese city of Baalbek, specifically targeting Hezbollah command centers that housed significant assets like drone and rocket installations. This strike followed previous attacks in the region and marked the third wave of strikes deep inside Lebanon in recent days.
In response, Iran-backed Hezbollah launched its largest barrage of rocket fire since hostilities began in October, firing 100 missiles at the Golan Heights. The Golan Heights is a disputed area that Israel captured from Syria in the six-day war in 1967. Details about casualties on either side were scarce.
Meanwhile, hopes for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas continued to fade as Qatari negotiators indicated that a deal remained elusive. The negotiators stated that there was no convergence on language that could resolve the current disagreement over the implementation of a deal, and no timeline for a cease-fire or prisoner swap could be offered.
Hamas has insisted on the release of remaining Israeli hostages taken in a violent attack on October 7, linking their release to Israel’s full withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has maintained his stance of seeking total victory over Hamas.
In Gaza, the World Health Organization delivered aid to Al-Shifa Hospital, including food, water, 24,000 liters of fuel, and medical supplies. The hospital, located in the north of the city, is in urgent need of specialized health workers to continue functioning effectively.
As the situation in the region remains tense, the possibility of a broader conflict involving multiple actors continues to loom large. The international community is closely monitoring the situation and urging all parties to de-escalate tensions and seek peaceful resolutions to the ongoing conflicts.
