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Civilian Casualties Rise.. Israel Targets New Areas in Lebanon
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The increasing number of civilian victims and displaced people in Lebanon highlights the high humanitarian cost of the conflict and raises questions about the Lebanese state's ability to deal with the
In a dangerous escalation of confrontations between Israel and Hezbollah, Lebanon witnessed today, Saturday, a series of violent Israeli raids targeting various areas in the country, including the Central Bekaa, South Lebanon, Batroun, Mount Lebanon, and Chouf. Al Arabiya's correspondent reported that the raids affected areas far from the southern border, in a development indicating an expansion of the confrontation area.
The Lebanese Ministry of Health announced the death of 9 people and the injury of 28 others in two Israeli raids targeting villages north and south of Beirut. Analysts view the targeting of areas not considered traditional strongholds of Hezbollah as a dangerous shift in Israel's military strategy.
On the other hand, Hezbollah announced launching drone and missile attacks on Israeli sites, including Tel Aviv suburbs and military bases in Haifa. The Israeli army confirmed detecting about 320 projectiles launched from Lebanon during "Yom Kippur," indicating that some were intercepted.
Estimates indicate the displacement of more than 1.2 million Lebanese since the beginning of the escalation in October 2023, with an accelerating pace of displacement in recent weeks. Experts warn that this situation puts enormous pressure on Lebanon's already limited infrastructure and resources.
Observers see this serious escalation as revealing the failure of diplomatic efforts to contain the crisis, necessitating urgent international intervention to prevent the region from sliding into a wider conflict. The rising number of civilian casualties also raises questions about the extent of both parties' commitment to the rules of engagement and civilian protection.
In light of these rapid developments, fears remain of the possibility of the conflict turning into a comprehensive war affecting all Lebanese territories, with the serious humanitarian, political, and economic consequences that this entails for Lebanon and the region as a whole.
Levant-Agencies
