Israeli Air Strikes in Southern Lebanon Kill 14
A series of Israeli airstrikes in the southern Lebanon region on Monday killed at least 14 people. The casualties include medical personnel and children, amidst an escalating conflict following threats from Iran to retaliate against Israel if the bombings continue.
The Lebanese Ministry of Health reported that one of the Israeli airstrikes hit the city of Tyre near the Red Cross centre. “The Israeli enemy attack in the city of Tyre, near the Red Cross centre, resulted in 5 deaths and 8 injuries, four of whom were Red Cross paramedics,” stated the official Ministry of Health announcement.
The Lebanese National News Agency (NNA) added that missiles from Israeli fighter jets targeted a vehicle near the building. In addition to Tyre, dawn attacks in the Zifta area of the Nabatieh district killed seven people, including a woman and children from Syria. Meanwhile, strikes in Marwanieh killed two others, including a small child, and injured 10 people.
Authorities also reported that Israeli bombings the previous day damaged a UNESCO World Heritage site in Tyre, leaving debris and dust across the historic location.
These deadly attacks in Tyre occurred just as Israel and Iran had suggested a pause in their cycle of retaliatory actions. However, the situation has intensified after Iran’s Central Military Command issued a stern warning regarding the continuation of Israeli military operations in Lebanon. “If acts of aggression and hostility continue, including in southern Lebanon, much heavier and more destructive actions than before will follow,” the Iranian Central Military Command asserted.
Responding to the threat, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz emphasised that his country’s military would not be intimidated and would continue operations to suppress Hezbollah. He also vowed to strike the southern outskirts of Beirut in retaliation for any attacks directed at northern Israel. “We firmly reject Iran’s threats. Any Iranian attempt to link Lebanon and Iran and attack Israel will be met with great force, as happened yesterday,” Katz stated.
On the battlefield, Hezbollah claimed to have targeted Israeli ground forces operating within southern Lebanon. According to Lebanese government data, Israeli attacks have killed more than 3,600 people since the conflict expanded in the region. While Israel has agreed to a partial ceasefire excluding Beirut, air and ground assaults continue to rage in southern Lebanon.
The strikes have caused severe damage to Hiram Hospital, including operating theatres, nurse quarters, patient rooms, clinics, the electrical network, and windows.
In related developments, President-elect Prabowo Subianto of Indonesia has expressed a desire for a peaceful solution to the Israel-Iran conflict, stating that the best way out must be found immediately. Furthermore, Prabowo emphasised the need for national energy self-sufficiency to anticipate the economic impacts of the Israel-Iran conflict.