BEIRUT – Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem vowed Wednesday to continue fighting against Israel, as Israeli forces intensified operations in southern Lebanon for a third day. The escalation comes after Hezbollah launched attacks on Israel Monday in response to the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, during recent U.S.-Israeli strikes. The conflict is rapidly expanding, with reports of strikes reaching as far as Tel Aviv.
“We are facing aggression… our choice is to confront it until the ultimate sacrifice, and we will not surrender,” Qassem declared in his first public statement since the renewed hostilities began. He framed the conflict as “an existential defence” for Hezbollah. The fighting has already taken a significant toll on Lebanon, with authorities reporting at least 72 people killed, 437 wounded, and approximately 83,000 displaced from their homes since Monday, according to reports from The Fresh York Times.
Israel has issued evacuation orders for residents south of the Litani River, a roughly 30-kilometer (20-mile) stretch north of the border, warning of impending military action against Hezbollah. The Israeli military stated Tuesday it was establishing a buffer zone within Lebanon to safeguard Israeli communities. Troops from three divisions – encompassing infantry, armored, and engineering units – are currently operating in southern Lebanon, according to the Israeli army.
AFP video footage captured Wednesday showed what appeared to be Israeli tanks positioned within residential buildings in Khiam, approximately six kilometers north of the border. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) released a statement noting the movements of Israeli forces, asserting that these actions violate Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Two Israeli soldiers sustained “moderate injuries” Wednesday due to anti-tank fire in the south, while Hezbollah claimed its fighters engaged Israeli troops in “direct” clashes in Khiam, inflicting casualties.
The conflict is expanding beyond the immediate border region. Israel expanded its aerial campaign Wednesday with a strike on a hotel in Hazmieh, a predominantly Christian area in Beirut’s suburbs, near the presidential palace and several foreign embassies. Images from the Jerusalem Post show significant damage, with rooms gutted and wounded individuals receiving treatment in the lobby. Residents were seen fleeing the scene carrying suitcases amidst the debris. The upscale district overlooks the southern suburbs of Beirut, a stronghold of Hezbollah.
Strikes similarly targeted Beirut’s southern suburbs, following the Israeli evacuation warning. One strike hit a building near a major hospital, with plumes of smoke rising above the densely populated area, according to an AFP photographer. In Aramoun and Saadiyat, south of Beirut – towns outside Hezbollah’s traditional areas of influence – Israeli strikes killed six people and wounded eight others, according to the Lebanese health ministry, which cautioned that this was a “preliminary toll.” Further strikes targeted a four-story building in Baalbek, eastern Lebanon, a region where Hezbollah maintains a strong presence. Rescue workers are currently searching the rubble for survivors.
Israel continued to strike other areas including Tyre, Nabatieh, and additional locations in the Baalbek district on Wednesday. Hezbollah has claimed responsibility for at least 15 attacks Wednesday, targeting Israeli positions as far as Tel Aviv, signaling an escalation in the group’s offensive capabilities.
The situation remains highly volatile, and the potential for further escalation is significant. The conflict’s impact on regional stability and the humanitarian consequences for the Lebanese population are growing concerns. The coming days will be critical in determining whether diplomatic efforts can de-escalate the situation or if the conflict will continue to expand.
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