Israeli airstrikes against Hezbollah have escalated, now including neighborhoods of Beirut and southern Lebanon. Multiple airstrikes by the Israeli military intensified their attack against the Lebanese group. Hezbollah targeted northern Israel near Haifa with rockets while the two sides exchanged gunfire. Within an hour, the Israeli military said it had struck 120 Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon. An airstrike in Bint Jbeil killed ten Lebanese firemen, adding to the rising number of casualties among first responders in the conflict.
Hezbollah claimed responsibility for the Haifa missile attack and military installations in northern Israel. This marked the first attack on Haifa since rockets targeted the town and surrounding areas in October last year. The initial assault on Haifa left ten people wounded. By 5 p.m., the Israeli military reported that forces in Lebanon had launched approximately 135 rockets into Israel.
Furthermore, the ongoing bloodshed has compelled many locals to abandon their homes. According to Filippo Grandi, the high commissioner for refugees of the UNHCR, this has led to a major displacement crisis. The southern portion of Lebanon, in particular, has been hit hard, with over one million people forced to flee. Additionally, Grandi stated that attacks on civilian targets are illegal under international law. Despite the urgent need for humanitarian aid, donors have only contributed about 40% of the $425.7 million requested by the UN.
Israeli soldiers have evacuated around 130 towns and villages as they step up operations along Lebanon’s southern shore. Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee told civilians that going south would risk their lives and gave them orders to head north right now. The peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, UNIFIL, denounced Israeli action close to its stations as well. Hezbollah refrained from attacking Israeli troops in the vicinity of UNIFIL sites despite accusations that Israel sought to use UNIFIL soldiers as human shields.
