Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and top Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem on Sunday declared plans to intensify their cross-border attacks, raising concerns about a potential escalation into a larger conflict, the New York Times reported.
Qassem indicated that the attacks marked the start of a new phase of warfare. “What happened last night is just the beginning,” he said at a funeral in Beirut for two Hezbollah commanders killed in an Israeli airstrike.”We will kill them and fight them from where they expect and from where they do not expect,” he added.
Hezbollah launched around 150 rockets, cruise missiles, and drones early Sunday, hitting deeper parts of Israel, according to the Israeli military. Israel‘s defences intercepted most of the projectiles, but one struck Kiryat Bialik, wounding at least four people.
Israel responded with airstrikes in southern Lebanon, killing at least three people and injuring four others, Lebanon‘s health ministry said. The death toll from a Friday airstrike in Beirut rose to at least 45, the ministry reported.
Netanyahu reaffirmed Israel’s intent to counter Hezbollah threats, aiming to enable the return of tens of thousands of Israelis displaced over the past year. More than 1,50,000 people from both sides have been driven from their homes due to the ongoing conflict.
Hezbollah has claimed that it has entered into “a new stage” of open warfare against Israel. Meanwhile, Israel has also made it clear that it is ready to take “whatever action is necessary” to counter the threat by its enemies.
The UN is also closely following the region’s developments and has raised serious concerns about the situation. After the recent escalation, it has cautioned that the “Middle East was on the brink of an imminent catastrophe”.
Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, the UN’s special coordinator for Lebanon stated, “It cannot be overstated enough: There is NO military solution that will make either side safer”.
Notably, Israel has not claimed responsibility for a recent attack that involved booby-trapped devices exploding across Lebanon, which killed dozens and injured thousands, disrupting Hezbollah’s communications.
Qassem indicated that the attacks marked the start of a new phase of warfare. “What happened last night is just the beginning,” he said at a funeral in Beirut for two Hezbollah commanders killed in an Israeli airstrike.”We will kill them and fight them from where they expect and from where they do not expect,” he added.
Hezbollah launched around 150 rockets, cruise missiles, and drones early Sunday, hitting deeper parts of Israel, according to the Israeli military. Israel‘s defences intercepted most of the projectiles, but one struck Kiryat Bialik, wounding at least four people.
Israel responded with airstrikes in southern Lebanon, killing at least three people and injuring four others, Lebanon‘s health ministry said. The death toll from a Friday airstrike in Beirut rose to at least 45, the ministry reported.
Netanyahu reaffirmed Israel’s intent to counter Hezbollah threats, aiming to enable the return of tens of thousands of Israelis displaced over the past year. More than 1,50,000 people from both sides have been driven from their homes due to the ongoing conflict.
Hezbollah has claimed that it has entered into “a new stage” of open warfare against Israel. Meanwhile, Israel has also made it clear that it is ready to take “whatever action is necessary” to counter the threat by its enemies.
The UN is also closely following the region’s developments and has raised serious concerns about the situation. After the recent escalation, it has cautioned that the “Middle East was on the brink of an imminent catastrophe”.
Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, the UN’s special coordinator for Lebanon stated, “It cannot be overstated enough: There is NO military solution that will make either side safer”.
Notably, Israel has not claimed responsibility for a recent attack that involved booby-trapped devices exploding across Lebanon, which killed dozens and injured thousands, disrupting Hezbollah’s communications.
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