Israel issued evacuation orders on Sunday for several neighborhoods in southern Beirut, targeting Hezbollah strongholds. This comes hours after the Iran-backed group claimed responsibility for a series of attacks on Israeli military bases near Haifa, marking a significant development in the broader conflict spanning Israel, Lebanon, and Gaza.
Israel’s military, through spokesman Avichay Adraee, published a warning on X (formerly Twitter), urging residents of three areas in Beirut’s southern suburbs to evacuate immediately. The warnings precede planned airstrikes on multiple buildings in areas known to house Hezbollah facilities. The southern suburbs, a bastion of Hezbollah influence, have been repeatedly targeted since the conflict intensified.
Fresh strikes on Saturday night in the same regions. The Israeli military stated that its aircraft hit a Hezbollah weapons storage facility and a command center. Meanwhile, Hezbollah retaliated by launching approximately 80 projectiles into northern Israel.
Further south, Israel’s airstrikes and artillery barrages struck the volatile town of Khiam, just six kilometers from the Lebanese-Israeli border. According to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA), the bombardments added to the heavy cross-border exchanges that have escalated since Hezbollah declared support for Hamas following the outbreak of war in Gaza on October 7.
Israeli military sources reported a “heavy rocket barrage” late Saturday, resulting in two civilian injuries when a synagogue was struck in Haifa. The same night, Israel shelled areas along the Litani River and targeted Hezbollah installations near the southern city of Tyre, including neighborhoods adjacent to UNESCO-designated ruins.
Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa Valley suffered casualties after an Israeli strike killed six people, including three children, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. In Tyre, Lebanese authorities continue to assess damages, as fears of collateral damage grow near culturally significant sites.
In eastern Lebanon, funerals were held for 14 civil defense workers killed in an Israeli airstrike on Thursday. Mourners emphasized their non-combatant status, with one relative, Ali al-Zein, remarking, “They weren’t involved with any armed party… they were just waiting to answer calls for help.”
Lebanese authorities report over 3,452 deaths since October last year, with the majority occurring in recent months. Hezbollah’s recent operations claimed the life of an Israeli soldier on Saturday, bringing Israel’s military fatalities in southern Lebanon to 48.
The conflict in Lebanon coincides with ongoing violence in Gaza, where Israel’s military continues its operations in northern regions like Jabalia and Beit Lahia. These offensives aim to dismantle Hamas infrastructure and prevent regrouping. Gaza’s civil defense agency reported 24 fatalities from Israeli strikes on Saturday alone.
The United Nations has sounded alarms over an impending famine in northern Gaza, citing the near-total collapse of food aid amid heightened hostilities. A UN-backed report warned that deteriorating humanitarian conditions could spiral into catastrophe without immediate intervention.
Hezbollah has ramped up its military actions, claiming responsibility for guided missile strikes, including one that reportedly set an Israeli tank ablaze in Shamaa, a Lebanese village near the border. On Saturday, the group targeted five Israeli military bases, including the Stella Maris naval base.
These attacks follow a pattern of intensifying cross-border violence that has drawn international condemnation and underscored Hezbollah’s prominent role in the broader conflict. Iran, Hezbollah’s primary backer, has called for a swift resolution to the war in Lebanon but continues to provide support to its allies in the region.
Despite growing calls for a ceasefire, diplomatic progress remains elusive. The United States, a key ally of Israel, presented a 13-point plan through its ambassador to Lebanon, Lisa Johnson. The proposal, which includes a 60-day truce and the deployment of Lebanese troops to the border, awaits an official response from Israel.
In Gaza, attempts to mediate between Hamas and Israel have faltered. Qatar, previously a lead negotiator, paused its role last week, citing a lack of “seriousness” from both parties in reaching a truce or facilitating the release of hostages.
International human rights organizations have criticized both sides for their conduct in the conflict. Human Rights Watch recently accused Israel of engaging in mass displacement in Gaza, labeling it a “crime against humanity.” Similarly, the UN Special Committee on Palestine has reported instances of warfare consistent with genocide.
Israel has vehemently denied these allegations. Its foreign ministry dismissed the HRW report as “completely false,” while the U.S. government also rejected accusations of genocide as “unfounded.” Meanwhile, Palestinian health authorities report that over 43,799 individuals have died in Gaza since the onset of the war, the majority of them civilians.
The Israeli government faces mounting pressure to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas and Islamic Jihad since the October 7 attacks. Protests in Tel Aviv on Saturday underscored public dissatisfaction, with demonstrators urging the government to expedite negotiations. The attacks that day left 1,206 Israelis dead, primarily civilians.
Security incidents continue to raise concerns across Israel. On Saturday, flares landed near Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Caesarea residence, although he was not home. The attack mirrored a drone strike targeting the same location a month earlier, claimed by Hezbollah.
The multifaceted conflict underscores the intertwined roles of Hamas, Hezbollah, and Islamic Jihad, all backed by Iran. On Saturday, Islamic Jihad confirmed the deaths of two senior leaders in an Israeli airstrike on Syria. Israel rarely claims responsibility for such operations but acknowledged this particular strike, further expanding the conflict’s geographical scope.
As tensions escalate, international actors remain divided on how to de-escalate the situation. While the U.S. continues its military and diplomatic support for Israel, countries like Iran and Qatar exert influence over regional proxies, complicating efforts for resolution.
The ongoing war reflects a volatile convergence of geopolitical interests, religious tensions, and long-standing grievances, with no clear end in sight. With civilian casualties mounting across borders, the urgency for an effective ceasefire grows, though significant hurdles remain in achieving peace.
