Israeli Air Strikes Intensify in Lebanon and Gaza Amid Ceasefire Hopes
Israeli air strikes pounded Hezbollah-controlled suburbs of Beirut for a second consecutive day on Wednesday, as Lebanon awaited the latest ceasefire proposals from Washington. The intensified offensive marks more than seven weeks since Israel launched attacks against Hezbollah.
Mid-morning air strikes leveled half a dozen buildings in Dahiyeh, a suburb of Beirut, and targeted the village of Dawhit Aramoun, south of the capital. The Lebanese Health Ministry reported that eight people were killed in Dawhit Aramoun, including three women and three children.
“They used to hit Dahiyeh at night; now they are doing it in daytime. Things are intensifying day after day,” said Hassan Moussa, a 40-year-old resident. “Israeli air strikes have also widened to areas such as Aramoun.”
In one of the deadliest days for Israel’s ground offensive, six Israeli soldiers were killed in combat against Hezbollah forces. In response, Hezbollah announced on Wednesday afternoon that it had targeted the headquarters of the Israeli Defense Ministry for the first time since the conflict began.
The United Nations Security Council condemned a series of attacks on the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, calling on all parties to respect the safety of the Blue Helmets. “Peacekeepers must never be the target of an attack,” the Security Council stated.
Meanwhile, in Gaza, at least ten Palestinians were killed on Wednesday in Israeli bombings on a home and tents of displaced people west of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, according to Palestinian sources reported by Xinhua.
The Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza reported that over 43,712 people have been killed in more than 13 months of conflict between Israel and Hamas.
As the violence escalates, Lebanon looks to the international community for support in brokering a ceasefire. The region’s stability hangs in the balance as civilians bear the brunt of the ongoing hostilities.
Reference(s):
Israel continues strikes in Lebanon, Gaza as Beirut awaits truce ideas
cgtn.com
