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Hezbollah and Israel.. Dramatic Escalation and Targeting of Strategic and Sensitive Areas
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Targeting vital and sensitive areas on both sides reflects an unprecedented escalation in the intensity of the confrontation, significantly undermining any potential diplomatic efforts to contain the
The military confrontations between Hezbollah and Israel witnessed an unprecedented dramatic escalation on Saturday, with the expansion of mutual targeting to include strategic and sensitive areas in both countries, threatening to turn the conflict into a comprehensive regional war.
In a notable development, Hezbollah announced a series of rocket attacks targeting vital areas in northern Israel. The party stated that it shelled the strategic city of Safed, in addition to targeting a military base near Haifa with what it described as a "large, qualitative rocket salvo." Hezbollah also targeted the Krayot area north of Haifa, in a clear indication of expanding its military operations.
In response, the Israeli army significantly escalated its operations, launching airstrikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut, a development that is the first of its kind since the start of the current confrontations. It also targeted the "Jounieh Highway" area for the first time, indicating a dangerous expansion in the scope of Israeli military operations inside Lebanese territory.
The Israeli army revealed that at least 115 projectiles were launched from Lebanon towards northern Israel, resulting in casualties among Israeli civilians. Israeli emergency services announced the death of a man about 50 years old near the city of Acre, in addition to nine others injured to varying degrees in the areas of Haifa and Western Galilee.
In a prominent military development, the Israeli army announced the assassination of Nasser Abdul Aziz Rashid, deputy commander of Hezbollah operations in the Bint Jbeil area in southern Lebanon, indicating an escalation in targeting the party's military leadership.
Amidst this dangerous escalation, a report issued by the Disaster Risk Management Unit in the Lebanese Council of Ministers revealed horrific figures for human losses. The death toll from Israeli raids on Lebanon since the beginning of the conflict on October 8, 2023, has risen to 2,418 dead, while the total injuries reached 11,336, figures that reflect the scale of destruction and humanitarian tragedy Lebanon is experiencing.
This dramatic escalation comes at a time when international fears are increasing about the possibility of the entire region sliding into a spiral of comprehensive violence. Targeting vital and strategic areas on both sides significantly undermines any chances for de-escalation in the near term and threatens to undermine diplomatic efforts aimed at containing the crisis.
With the tragic rise in the number of civilian casualties, international pressure is increasing to stop this dangerous escalation. However, these heavy human losses may simultaneously push both parties towards more revenge and escalation, creating a vicious cycle of violence that is difficult to escape from.
Levant-Agencies
