Israel increased its bombing range in Lebanon on Saturday. They carried out a dozen airstrikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut. It is also the first time Israel has struck Palestinian refugee camps deeper in the north, targeting both Hezbollah and Hamas.
Thousands of Lebanese, including Palestinian refugees, continue to flee as the conflict rages in the region. On the other hand, on the eve of the anniversary of the start of the war in Gaza, there are gatherings around the world.
A Hamas military officer, his wife and two young daughters were killed in an Israeli attack on the Bedawi camp near Tripoli in northern Lebanon, the Palestinian militant group said. AFP identified the official as Saeed Atallah Ali. Hamas later said another member of its military wing was killed in Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa Valley.
Israel’s military says it has killed two senior officers of Hamas’ military wing in Lebanon. Fighting there has intensified in recent weeks. Since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, Israel has killed many Hamas officials, including top leaders of Lebanon-based Hezbollah.
Israel says it is targeting Hezbollah commanders and their military equipment to drive the militant group from the common border.
In less than two weeks, at least 1,400 Lebanese, including civilians, paramedics and Hezbollah fighters, have been killed and 1.2 million people have been forced to flee their homes.
Lebanon’s most powerful armed force, Iran-backed Hezbollah, launched rocket attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, shortly after the Hamas attack, which it said was in support of the Palestinians. Fire has been exchanged almost daily between Hezbollah and Israel’s military.
After an Israeli attack last week killed longtime Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and others, Israel launched what it said was a limited ground operation in southern Lebanon. Nine Israeli soldiers were killed in heavy ground clashes. Israel says 250 Hezbollah fighters were killed in the same conflict.
Israel’s military said on Saturday that about 90 missiles were fired from Lebanon into Israeli territory. Most were stopped midway, but many ended up in the northern Arab city of Deir al-Assad, where police said three people were injured.
“We are trying to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told reporters in Damascus. The minister, however, did not mention the names of the countries that are taking the initiative but only said that the initiative includes regional states and some countries outside the Middle East.
A day before Araghchi’s speech, Iran’s supreme leader praised its recent missile attack on Israel and said it was ready to do so again if necessary.
People are fleeing Lebanon on foot
At least six people were killed in Israeli airstrikes between Friday night and Saturday, according to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency.
In less than two weeks, some 375,000 people have crossed the border from Lebanon to Syria to escape Israeli attacks, according to a Lebanese government committee.
Associated Press reporters saw thousands of people cross the Masna border crossing on foot, despite large holes left in the road by Israeli airstrikes on Thursday. Most of Hezbollah’s weapons are believed to come from Iran via Syria.
The Israeli military says its special forces are carrying out ground attacks against Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon, destroying facilities such as missile sites, launch sites, observation towers and weapons depots.