Israel launched more than 120 airstrikes against Lebanon on Tuesday in one of the heaviest days of bombing in weeks, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his military was escalating its offensive against Hezbollah. The strikes targeted 100 sites linked to Hezbollah across southern Lebanon and the eastern Bekaa valley, including storage facilities, command centers, and observation points, according to the Israeli military.
Ceasefire on the Brink of Collapse
The US-brokered ceasefire, established last month, now appears close to total collapse. This development complicates negotiations to end the war with Iran, which has close ties to Hezbollah. Tehran has repeatedly signaled that halting Israel's offensive in Lebanon is a condition for any deal with Washington.
Civilian Casualties Mount
Lebanon's national news agency reported that at least 10 people, including women and children, were killed in a strike on the town of Burj al-Shamali in southern Lebanon. Another strike on the eastern village of Mashghara killed 12 people, including several members of the same family. Over 1 million people in Lebanon have been displaced, and at least 3,213 people have been killed since the war began, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.
Netanyahu's Escalation Strategy
Netanyahu stated that the Israeli military is "operating with large forces in the field and capturing and controlling areas," referring to a self-declared security zone several kilometers inside southern Lebanon. Facing a tough re-election battle, Netanyahu is under pressure to show results against Hezbollah, as few aims of the war launched with Iran in February have been achieved.
Calls for Intensified Attacks
Israeli politicians and commentators have urged Netanyahu to ignore any US pressure to limit military operations. Avi Ashkenazi, writing in Maariv, called for "sustained around-the-clock attack waves of strikes using hundreds of aircraft simultaneously," stating that "the ground in Lebanon must tremble."
Hezbollah's Response and New Tactics
Hezbollah reported clashes with Israeli forces north of the Litani River, the current de facto boundary. The group has boasted of using new fiber-optic drones that Israeli troops struggle to intercept. Air raid sirens were activated in northern Israel after reports of a drone infiltration.
Continued Fighting and Casualties
Since the April 16 ceasefire, 10 Israeli soldiers have been killed, six by Hezbollah's explosive drones. Hezbollah has not released its casualty figures. Israel's defense minister confirmed the killing of Mohammed Odeh, the new leader of Hamas's military wing, in airstrikes on Gaza City, where at least five people were killed and 12 injured.
