Israel Escalates Attacks on Lebanon, Hundreds Killed and Wounded

Israeli forces launched their largest air assault on Lebanon today, Wednesday, April 8, since the Israeli army began its military operation against Lebanese Hezbollah on March 2.

Lebanon’s National News Agency reported that the Israeli strikes targeted areas in southern Lebanon, Hermel, and Zahle. The raids hit villages and towns in the Tyre district, including Housh Sour, al-Mansouri, al-Qlayleh, al-Hinniyeh, al-Bazourieh, al-Burj al-Shamali, Deir Qanoun al-Nahr, Kounine, and al-Majadel, as well as Hermel district and farms in Dhour al-Karak.

According to the agency, the strikes killed and wounded several people, including an entire family in the town of al-Mansoura in Hermel district, four people in al-Majadil, and two people wounded in Bedias.

A large number of civilians were also wounded in Deir Qanoun al-Nahr and the Souki building in Tyre, the agency said, adding that civil defense teams affiliated with the Islamic Risala Scout Association transported the injured to hospitals in Tyre.

The agency added that the Israeli attack also targeted civil defense centers, including the Islamic Health Authority center in Hermel, causing further deaths and injuries.

Lebanese Health Minister Rakan Nassereldine said that hundreds of people had been killed and wounded across Lebanon as a result of the Israeli assault.

Despite Israel’s announcement that it would abide by the ceasefire agreement announced between the United States and Iran, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the agreement does not include Lebanon. At the same time, Pakistan’s prime minister, whose country is sponsoring the talks, said the agreement covers all active fronts in the region.

Largest strike since operation began

The Israeli army announced today, Wednesday, April 8, that it had carried out its largest strike across Lebanon since the start of its military operation there on March 2.

Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee said Israeli forces targeted around 100 Hezbollah military headquarters and infrastructure sites within ten minutes across several areas.

He added that the strikes targeted “Hezbollah military infrastructure across Beirut, the Bekaa, and southern Lebanon,” including, according to him, intelligence headquarters and central command bodies used by Hezbollah members to direct and plan what he described as “terrorist” plots against Israeli army forces.

According to Adraee, the strikes also targeted infrastructure linked to Hezbollah’s rocket fire and naval capabilities, which he said were responsible for launching rockets at Israeli army forces on land and at sea, as well as assets belonging to Hezbollah’s Radwan Force and Unit 127, the group’s air unit.

Adraee said the Israeli operation was based on precise intelligence and was carried out after weeks of careful planning by the Operations Directorate, Intelligence Directorate, Air Force, and Northern Command, with the aim of deepening the blow being dealt to Hezbollah.

The Israeli army spokesperson accused Hezbollah of “using civilians as human shields to protect its activity by placing most of the targeted infrastructure in the heart of civilian areas.”

Adraee also said the Israeli army had “taken measures to minimize harm to uninvolved individuals as much as possible,” in his words.

He called on the Lebanese state and its citizens to oppose Hezbollah’s presence in civilian areas and its attempts to build up military capabilities, adding that Israeli forces “will continue to act forcefully against Hezbollah” and “will not allow harm to Israeli citizens,” according to his statement.

Israel has been carrying out a military operation against Lebanese Hezbollah since March 2. The campaign has caused deaths and injuries, including among Syrians, and triggered large-scale displacement inside the country.

More than 200,000 people have crossed from Lebanon into Syria through the three official crossings between the two countries, according to a statement published by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on March 31.

Syrians make up the overwhelming majority of that figure, with around 180,000 people, including Syrian refugees who had previously fled Syria in search of safety in Lebanon and are now being forced to flee once again, in addition to Syrians who had long been considering returning home.

More than 28,000 Lebanese have also crossed into Syria, most of them fleeing the heavy Israeli bombardment, according to the UN report.