Netanyahu Lebanon Faces Destruction Similar to Gaza

Smoke billowed over Beirut's southern suburbs following new Israeli airstrikes on Tuesday, intensifying the conflict in the region.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called on the Lebanese people to oust Hezbollah, warning them to avoid "destruction and suffering like we see in Gaza."

His appeal came as Israel intensified its military operations in southern Lebanon, deploying thousands more troops. Israeli air strikes reportedly killed 50 Hezbollah fighters on Monday.

In the past 24 hours, the Lebanese health ministry reported 36 deaths and 150 injuries due to Israeli attacks. Meanwhile, Hezbollah continued its rocket assaults on the Israeli port city of Haifa for the third straight day, resulting in 12 injuries.

In a video address to the Lebanese people, Netanyahu urged them to free their country from Hezbollah to prevent further destruction and suffering like that seen in Gaza. He claimed that Israeli forces had killed the successor to Hezbollah's former leader, Hassan Nasrallah, though the IDF later stated it could not confirm this.

Despite ongoing Israeli strikes that have reportedly killed over 1,400 people and displaced 1.2 million in Lebanon, Hezbollah has remained resolute. Naim Qassem, Nasrallah's former deputy, asserted that the group has managed to withstand recent attacks and that its capabilities remain intact.

The conflict has intensified following Hezbollah's rocket fire into northern Israel, which began on October 8, 2023, in response to Hamas's deadly assault on southern Israel the previous day. Israel's military actions are aimed at ensuring the safety of residents in border areas affected by Hezbollah's attacks.

Many displaced Lebanese are currently seeking refuge in open areas throughout Beirut, including car parks, as they navigate the ongoing crisis.

On Tuesday morning, the IDF announced that reservists from its 146th Division had commenced limited, localized, targeted operational activities” in southwestern Lebanon. 

This deployment adds to the three standing army divisions already engaged in central and eastern regions of southern Lebanon since the invasion began on September 30, bringing the total number of soldiers to over 15,000.

The IDF reported that troops had seized control of a Hezbollah “combat compound” in the border village of Maroun al-Ras, sharing images of a loaded rocket launcher in an olive grove and weapons found in a residential building. Drone footage revealed extensive destruction in the nearby village of Yaroun, an initial target of the operation.

In a joint statement, the UN special coordinator for Lebanon and the head of the UN peacekeeping force warned that the humanitarian impact of the conflict has been “nothing short of catastrophic.” Lebanon’s government estimates that up to 1.2 million people have fled their homes in the past year, with nearly 180,000 currently in approved displacement centers.

Additionally, over 400,000 individuals have sought refuge in war-torn Syria, including more than 200,000 Syrian refugees. The head of the UN refugee agency described this situation as one of “tragic absurdity.” The World Food Programme has expressed “extraordinary concern” for Lebanon's food security, noting that thousands of hectares of farmland have been burned or abandoned.

On Tuesday, a Hezbollah rocket caused damage to an apartment in Kiryat Yam, a suburb of Haifa.

The IDF announced on Tuesday that its aircraft conducted new strikes on Hezbollah targets in southern Beirut and other areas across Lebanon. 

This follows a Monday strike that reportedly killed Suhail Husseini, the commander of Hezbollah’s headquarters. Hezbollah has yet to comment on the claim, but if confirmed, it would mark another significant blow to the group, which has seen many of its leaders, including Hassan Nasrallah, targeted in recent operations.

Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine, who is expected to succeed Nasrallah, has not been heard from publicly since an Israeli airstrike reportedly targeted him last Thursday. IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari stated that the military could not confirm claims by Netanyahu and Israel's defense minister regarding Safieddine's death and indicated that the IDF was assessing the operation's outcomes.

In a defiant televised address, Hezbollah’s deputy leader, Naim Qassem, asserted that the group's command and control remained “solid” with “no vacant positions.” He claimed Hezbollah's missile capabilities are intact and that they continue to inflict damage on Israel. Notably, he did not reiterate the previous condition of ending the Gaza conflict as a prerequisite for halting attacks.

Qassem expressed support for the political efforts of Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri aimed at achieving a ceasefire, stating that once a ceasefire is secured, diplomatic discussions can address further details.

His remarks coincided with the launch of over 100 rockets towards Haifa Bay and other regions, with the IDF reporting that most were intercepted and no serious casualties occurred. Notably, a direct hit was recorded on Haifa for the first time since the last conflict with Hezbollah in 2006.