IDF Continues To Conduct High-Impact Air Strikes Across Lebanon
Israel has announced a fresh wave of air raids targeting “dozens” of sites in Lebanon, following the killing of the group’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that the strikes were part of a broader campaign to dismantle Hezbollah’s military infrastructure. This marked a significant escalation in the long-standing conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed group, intensifying concerns of a wider regional war.
Nasrallah’s death, confirmed by Hezbollah a day after an Israeli airstrike on southern Beirut, delivered a severe blow to the organisation he had led for decades.
His assassination represents a pivotal moment in the nearly year-long tit-for-tat exchanges of cross-border fire between Hezbollah and Israel. Many analysts fear that this latest incident could drag the entire region into further chaos.
The IDF reported that it has attacked “dozens of terrorist targets” in Lebanon over the past several hours, focusing on locations where Hezbollah stored weapons and military equipment.
Since the death of Nasrallah, the IDF has ramped up its operations, striking hundreds of Hezbollah positions. The military’s goal is to cripple Hezbollah’s military capabilities, ensuring that the group cannot launch further attacks on Israel.
Among the latest casualties of the IDF airstrikes is senior Hezbollah figure Nabil Kaouk. Though Hezbollah has yet to officially comment on his death, supporters have already begun posting mourning messages. Kaouk’s death signals another significant loss for Hezbollah amid an ongoing exchange of strikes with the IDF.
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Hezbollah initiated low-intensity cross-border attacks against Israeli forces soon after its ally, Hamas, launched a major offensive on Israel on October 7, sparking the war in Gaza. The IDF has since responded with a relentless series of strikes, and the possibility of a ground operation against Hezbollah looms, heightening international concerns.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, following Nasrallah’s death, declared that Israel had “settled the score” for the deaths of Israelis and foreign nationals, including Americans.
Nasrallah had long been the face of Hezbollah with a near cult-like status among Shiite Muslim supporters.
His death has sent shockwaves throughout the region. Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari stated that Nasrallah’s elimination “makes the world a safer place.” However, the killing has provoked outrage in Tehran and other parts of the Middle East.
Iran’s First Vice President, Mohammad Reza Aref, condemned the attack as “unjust bloodshed” and warned that Nasrallah’s death would lead to Israel’s “destruction.” Hamas similarly condemned the killing, calling it a “cowardly terrorist act.”
Several countries, including Lebanon, Iraq, Iran, and Syria, have declared public mourning for Nasrallah. In an apparent retaliatory move, Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed to have fired a missile at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport, reportedly aiming to strike as Netanyahu returned from a trip to New York.
International reactions to Nasrallah’s killing have varied. U.S. President Joe Biden, whose administration is a key arms supplier to Israel, referred to the incident as “a measure of justice.” Vice President Kamala Harris, who is running for the presidency, described Nasrallah as “a terrorist with American blood on his hands.”
In contrast, Iran has called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to address what it views as Israel’s ongoing aggression. Iran’s UN envoy, Amir Saeid Iravani, urged the council to take “immediate and decisive action” to stop Israel from dragging the region into a full-scale war.
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Nasrallah’s death has left Hezbollah under immense pressure to respond. Analysts suggest that Hezbollah must either mount a significant retaliation or risk being perceived as defeated.
IDF Vows To Continue To Fight Till Objectives Are Met
The IDF, meanwhile, continues its offensive, with Netanyahu promising to keep fighting until the Lebanese border is secure. “Israel has every right to remove this threat and return our citizens to their homes safely,” Netanyahu said.
The escalating conflict has taken a severe toll on civilians in Lebanon. More than 700 people have been killed in Israeli strikes, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.
The air raids, which began earlier this month, have displaced over 200,000 people, with many fleeing to neighbouring Syria. The situation on the ground is dire, with families forced to take shelter in the streets as airstrikes continue to pound southern Beirut.
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Diplomatic efforts are underway to de-escalate the situation, but the conflict remains volatile. Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel resulted in over 1,200 deaths, most of them civilians, while Israeli retaliatory strikes in Gaza have claimed more than 41,000 lives, according to Gaza’s health authorities. As the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) presses forward in both Lebanon and Gaza, the risk of further regional instability grows.
Amid the violence, Pope Francis has called for an immediate ceasefire, urging all sides to stop hostilities in Lebanon, Gaza, and Israel. His plea comes at a critical moment as the IDF continues its mission to neutralise Hezbollah and restore security along its northern border.
