Deadly Escalation: Israel Strikes Southern Lebanon in Retaliation, Death Toll Mounts to 37
Israel Launches Airstrike in Southern Lebanon Amid Rising Tensions
Foreign news agencies reported from Beirut, Lebanon on September 22 that the Israeli army issued a statement confirming a “wide attack” in southern Lebanon on Saturday to eliminate threats to Israeli citizens.
The operation, which lasted only a day, followed an Israeli air attack that destroyed targets in the area south of Beirut last Friday, resulting in the deaths of at least 37 people, including two senior members of Hezbollah.
Meanwhile, the Israeli army confirmed that more than 90 rockets were fired from Lebanon towards 11 Israeli military bases in the north of the country.
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati condemned Israel’s “massacre” and canceled his planned meeting of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on “all parties” to put an end to the use of violence against each other.
The US State Department advised its citizens to leave Lebanon, citing the ongoing tensions and availability of commercial flight services.
Israel and Hezbollah have been engaged in daily attacks since the war in Gaza began on October 7, 2023. The situation has escalated since August, with tensions rising after a series of bombings on September 17 and 18.
Photo credit: AFP