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Hezbollah and Israel Exchange Heavy Fire Following Deadly Israeli Strike

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Hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel escalated on Sunday as both sides exchanged heavy fire across Lebanon’s southern border. Israeli airstrikes, some of the most intense in nearly a year, targeted Hezbollah positions, while the Iran-backed group launched rocket attacks on Israeli military targets in response. According to Israel’s military, approximately 290 Hezbollah targets were hit on Saturday, including rocket launchers.

Hezbollah claimed responsibility for striking Israel’s Ramat David Airbase with missiles, marking its deepest attack since hostilities began. In addition, Iran-backed Iraqi militants also claimed a drone strike on Israel early Sunday. Israeli air defenses intercepted most of the rockets and missiles, though some buildings were damaged, and a few people were treated for minor injuries.

This latest exchange follows an Israeli airstrike on Friday that killed 37 people, including senior Hezbollah figures, in a Lebanese suburb. Among the casualties were senior leaders Ibrahim Aqil and Ahmed Wahbi. Israel’s military said the strike targeted an underground meeting of Hezbollah commanders and nearly dismantled the group’s military chain of command.

Friday’s attack significantly escalated tensions, with Hezbollah retaliating by launching rockets at Israeli military facilities. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced the continuation of operations until the northern residents could safely return to their homes, signaling a protracted conflict.

U.S. officials, while expressing concern over the risk of further escalation, pointed out that the killing of Hezbollah’s leadership brought “justice” to the group. However, Hezbollah remains determined to fight until Israel agrees to a ceasefire in Gaza, where conflict with Hamas rages on.

Meanwhile, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati canceled his trip to the U.N. General Assembly in New York, as the situation worsened. Tensions remain high as both Hezbollah and Israel brace for further retaliation. Since the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel began in October, more than 740 people have died in Lebanon, marking the worst violence since the 2006 war.

 

Israeli Airstrike in Beirut Kills Hezbollah Commander and Over a Dozen Others

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Israel launched a rare and deadly airstrike in a densely populated area of southern Beirut on Friday, killing Ibrahim Akil, a senior Hezbollah commander, and 13 others. This strike targeted Beirut’s southern Dahiya district, marking the deadliest attack on Lebanon’s capital in decades. Akil, a commander of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force and a member of its Jihad Council, was among those killed. The United States had sanctioned Akil for his involvement in the 1983 U.S. Embassy bombing in Beirut and other attacks, offering a $7 million reward for his capture.

The Israeli military confirmed the strike, with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant describing the operation as part of “a new phase of war” aimed at neutralizing Hezbollah threats. Hezbollah confirmed Akil’s death, praising him as a significant military leader.

This airstrike is part of the ongoing escalation between Israel and Hezbollah, further inflamed by Hezbollah’s rocket attacks on northern Israel, which followed earlier explosions in Lebanon attributed to Israeli operations. The latest Israeli strike occurred as fears of a full-scale conflict between the two rivals increase, with Israel bolstering its forces on the northern border in response.

Surgeon Describes Overwhelming Workload After Device Explosions in Lebanon

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In the wake of devastating device explosions in Lebanon, surgeon Elias Jaradeh recounted the overwhelming number of severely injured patients that forced him to adopt a “robotic” approach just to continue his work. The attacks, which have been attributed to Israel, resulted in the deaths of 37 people, including two children, and injured around 3,200 others.

Dr. Jaradeh, also an MP for the Change parliamentary bloc, treated numerous victims at a specialized eye and ear hospital. He noted that while many of the injured were young men, a significant number were women and children. Tragically, many patients suffered severe injuries, including the loss of eyesight.

The attacks have not only targeted Hezbollah fighters but also affected innocent bystanders and family members, with Dr. Jaradeh observing that most of the victims appeared to be civilians. “You have to dissociate yourself,” he explained, highlighting the emotional toll on medical staff as they witnessed the nation suffering.

In the aftermath, eye specialist Prof. Elias Warrak revealed that he performed more eye extractions in one night than he had in his entire career, describing the experience as unprecedented. Health Minister Firass Abiad emphasized the life-altering nature of the injuries sustained by the victims, many of whom will require extensive rehabilitation.

Witness accounts describe scenes of chaos and horror in hospitals, with injuries primarily affecting the face and hands. One journalist noted the rapid arrival of ambulances, bringing in patients with severe wounds, while another recounted seeing individuals with horrific facial injuries.

The attacks have reignited traumatic memories from the Beirut port explosion four years ago, when a massive blast resulted in significant casualties. Now, as the Lebanese army destroys suspicious devices and bans walkie-talkies and pagers on flights, the health minister warns of the serious implications of technology being weaponized.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah condemned the device attacks as a “massacre” and a “declaration of war,” amid ongoing tensions and cross-border fire with Israel. Both Dr. Jaradeh and Health Minister Abiad expressed grave concerns for the future, suggesting that without a genuine peace process, Lebanon may be bracing for further conflict.