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Israel broadens military offensive in Lebanon
Israeli forces have expanded their aerial campaign in Lebanon this week, targeting areas outside Hezbollah's traditional zones of influence, including residential neighborhoods in Beirut and the country's south.
Civilian areas hit without warning
On Tuesday, Israeli airstrikes struck a vehicle in Mansourieh, a predominantly Christian district north of Beirut, and the Jnah neighborhood in the capital's center. Residents reported hearing multiple explosions overnight. Hassan Jalwan, a local resident, told AFP, "Nobody knows what's happening," adding that displaced families were sleeping outdoors in the area.
The Lebanese health ministry confirmed that Al-Zahraa Hospital treated several injured from the Jnah strike. A separate attack destroyed a building near Beirut's airport after an evacuation order was issued.
Healthcare workers among latest casualties
In southern Lebanon, Israeli strikes hit a medical facility, killing a paramedic, according to the health ministry. The ministry reported at least seven deaths in the south on Tuesday, bringing the total number of healthcare workers killed since the conflict began to 53.
The Lebanese army withdrew its last positions in the south, including Ain Ibel and Rmeish, after an Israeli airstrike killed a soldier at a checkpoint. The Israeli military has not commented on the incident.
Residents defy evacuation orders
Despite the intensifying attacks, some villagers refuse to leave. In Rmeish, a predominantly Christian village, Father Najib Al Amil posted a video on social media stating, "We rely on God and will stay in our village. We either all die together and lose our land or live and our villages will live with us."
Israel has announced plans to establish a 30-kilometer buffer zone extending to the Litani River, displacing hundreds of thousands. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated that Lebanese civilians would be barred from returning until Israel's northern residents' safety is guaranteed. He also warned that homes near the border would be demolished, citing tactics used in Gaza.
Humanitarian crisis deepens
The Lebanese health ministry reported 1,268 deaths since the conflict escalated, while the UN estimates over one million people have been displaced. Israeli strikes have targeted bridges and infrastructure, severing supply lines to the south and rendering villages uninhabitable.
The Lebanese government condemned Israel's actions as a violation of sovereignty, recalling the country's 18-year occupation of southern Lebanon from 1982 to 2000. Many fear the current conflict could mirror Gaza's devastation, with generational displacement and loss of land.
Strategic tensions persist
Hezbollah entered the regional conflict on March 2, launching missiles at Israel after U.S. and Israeli strikes targeted its ally, Iran, on February 28. Israel claims its strikes have destroyed Hezbollah infrastructure and killed senior commanders, though the group's ground capabilities remain a threat to prolonged Israeli occupation.
Analysts suggest Israel's advanced missile and drone capabilities may overwhelm Hezbollah's defenses, but the group's guerrilla tactics could prolong resistance if Israel attempts to hold southern Lebanon.
"For the hundreds of thousands forced from their homes, this war is far from over,"
UN spokesperson
