Civilian Casualties Rise.. Israel Targets New Areas in Lebanon
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
October 13, 2024, 1:25 am

Civilian Casualties Rise.. Israel Targets New Areas in Lebanon

الجيش الإسرائيلي يعلن عن موجة غارات جديدة على لبنان

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

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”