Lebanon on Brink of Collapse: Israeli Operation Sparks Fears of Regional Chaos

A map of airstrikes on villages in southern Lebanon raised doubts about Israeli readiness for the scenario of a ground operation, whether a broad or limited offensive, or reinforced by airdrops that it called up two reserve brigades for “operational missions” in response, when both sides The exchange of spying capabilities was among the targets the group announced it had targeted for the first time in Tel Aviv.

Over three days, Israeli aircraft launched hundreds of strikes on targets the army said aimed at crippling its offensive missile capabilities in the south, reaching the outskirts of the southern border city of Sidon and Iqlim al-Kharrub, the widest stretch of land between Lebanon and Israel. Not all of his battles were witnessed, targeting civilian homes, riverbanks and valleys, and a bank. Targets that say residents, a large portion of which do not belong to Hezbollah or its fighters, affect civilian homes and facilities.

The simultaneous intensity of the airstrikes on all the Shia-dominated towns and villages in the south of Lebanon led to a large displacement, until the villages and towns seemed almost empty, which gave rise to speculation within the party environment that what was happening today was “a plan to evacuate the territory of the inhabitants in such a way that Lets it go “wild”.

The bombing map appears to attempt to isolate the south from the rest of Lebanon, where a ground strategy is planned, whether extensive or limited or involving airdrops, noting that the operations target all riverbeds. South, which are “sites that are considered militarily important for launching … “missiles from the valley,” military analysts say.

These assumptions are strengthened by two additional factors: the first is the announcement by the Israeli army in a statement that “according to the assessment of the situation,” it has called up “two reserve brigades for operational missions on the northern front”: “It is to continue the fight against the terrorist organization (Hezbollah) and Israel’s defense and northern Israel will allow residents to return to their homes to create conditions.”

As for the second reason, it was announced that 60 targets belonging to the intelligence wing of the party were hit and he said in a statement that “the strikes destroyed intelligence gathering equipment, command centers and additional infrastructure used by the enemy. Assess intelligence situation.”

The latest announcement comes in the context of mutual declarations of targeting the security systems of both sides. Hezbollah announced the launch of a “Qader-1” ballistic missile targeting the Mossad headquarters on the outskirts of Tel Aviv, saying in a statement that it was “responsible for killing leaders and bombing (pagers) and radio devices.” While the Israeli military announced that the Defense Forces intercepted a missile fired from Lebanon towards Tel Aviv.

Israelis inspect damage caused by Hezbollah missiles at Kibbutz Sayer near Nahariya (AFP)

Israeli warplanes have expanded their operations to targets for the first time in the history of the war between Lebanon and Israel, as they bombarded the town of Al-Muaysara in Mount Lebanon’s Kesarwan, a Shia-majority town in a Christian environment. The raids also targeted the town of Zon on the coast of South Chouf district, killing 9 and injuring 4.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the Ministry of Public Health recorded 51 people in Israeli raids in various areas of Lebanon, before announcing the recovery of 10 victims and dozens of wounded in a violent bombing in the southern Lebanese city of Tayre Falls. .

The ministry said in an initial toll that “Today the Israeli enemy’s attack on the town of Al-Muasra in Keserwan,” which is located about 30 kilometers north of Beirut, “left 3 martyrs and 9 wounded.” The ministry announced in another statement that “Today the Israeli enemy’s attack in the town of Zoun, Chouf district (south of Beirut) resulted in the initial results of 4 deaths and 7 injuries.”

The two areas, relatively far from Hezbollah strongholds in the south and east of the country, have been safe from Israeli operations since tensions between Hezbollah and Israel began nearly a year ago.

“Continued raids by the Israeli enemy” in the Baalbek-Hermel region (east) killed 7 people, and raids in southern Lebanese towns killed 9, the health ministry said.

In the southern Lebanese city of Nabatih, a government hospital was damaged by an Israeli raid, according to Nabatih Governorate Hawaida al-Turk. Al-Turk told Agence France-Presse that “the Nabih Beri government hospital, which is the only government hospital in Nabatih district, suffered major damage from the raid,” in addition to damage to the nearby Civil Defense Center. “Some rooms and parts of the hospital were damaged, but no one was injured,” he explained.

Smoke billows from airstrikes targeting the southern Lebanese town of Khiyam (AFP)

The Israeli army announced on Wednesday that it had “launched a massive offensive in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa region” on the eastern border with Syria.

Lebanese media reported that the raids targeted Jibshit, Harouf, Jefta, al-Bazuriyeh, Kafr Tibnit, al-Khiyam, Deir Antar, Burj al-Shamali, Zebkin, Durus-Baalbek, al-Abbasiya, Kafarman, Nabatieh al. Fawqa, Mifdaun, Shokin, al-Qasiba, Bir al-Silsil and al-Bisaria, al-Adusiya, Tufaha, al-Najjariya, al-Burj al-Shamali, Ain Baal, al-Kharaib, al-Hush, Numeiriya, Kafarman. , Marka, Tibnain, Haris, Yatar, Kunain, Qana, Arab Salem, Jarju, Al-Rayhan Heights, Sajd, Nabatih and Kabrikha. An operation between the Nabatih-Zahrani road blocked the international road to Nabatih.