Israeli ground forces reached their deepest penetration into Lebanon since launching their campaign six weeks ago, but they pulled back on Saturday following clashes with Hezbollah guerrillas, according to Lebanese state media.
Skirmishes, Airstrikes Shake Escalating Tensions
The skirmishes and subsequent Israeli airstrikes coincided with Lebanese and Hezbollah officials considering a U.S.-backed draft proposal aimed at ending the ongoing war. Israeli forces briefly captured a strategic hill in the southern Lebanese village of Chamaa, located about 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the border. The National News Agency reported that Israeli troops destroyed the Shrine of Shimon the Prophet in Chamaa and several nearby homes, though these details could not be independently confirmed.
The Israeli military did not comment specifically on the report but said its forces were conducting “limited, localized operations” in southern Lebanon. In retaliation, Israeli warplanes launched multiple strikes against Hezbollah positions in Beirut’s southern suburbs, a known Hezbollah stronghold, as well as the port city of Tyre.
Civilian Casualties from Israeli Airstrikes
The National News Agency reported that an Israeli airstrike in the northeastern village of Khraibeh killed a couple and their four children. In Dahiyeh, a Hezbollah-controlled area in southern Beirut, shrapnel from an Israeli strike wounded a teenage girl, who was moved to intensive care, according to a hospital official who spoke anonymously. Israeli officials stated that their airstrikes targeted at least five Hezbollah military sites.
Tensions Persist, Rocket Fire Resumes
Israel has significantly increased its aerial bombardment of Lebanon in recent weeks, aiming to weaken Hezbollah and halt the group’s rocket fire into Israeli territory. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for missile attacks on Haifa, Israel’s largest northern city, wounding two civilians. The group also stated that it had targeted five Israeli military facilities in Haifa. On Saturday, Israel reported that Hezbollah had fired more than 60 rockets into its territory.
Casualties on Both Sides
At least 3,400 people have been killed in Lebanon as a result of Israeli airstrikes, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry, with 80% of the casualties occurring in the past eight weeks. On the Israeli side, a soldier was killed in southern Lebanon on Friday, according to Israel’s military.
Gaza Tragedies Continue
In Gaza, violence continues to escalate. On Saturday evening, an Israeli airstrike killed 10 people and wounded 20 when it hit a U.N.-run school sheltering displaced individuals in the Shati refugee camp. The Israeli military stated that the airstrike targeted a Hamas command center within the compound.
The current conflict in Gaza began on October 7, 2023, when Palestinian militants launched an attack from Gaza into Israeli territory, killing about 1,200 people—mostly civilians—and abducting 250 others. Approximately 100 hostages are still believed to be held in Gaza, with about one-third presumed dead.
The Health Ministry in Gaza reports that at least 43,799 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict, with more than half of the casualties being women and children.
Diplomatic Efforts to End the Conflict
On the diplomatic front, U.N. Security Council members have circulated a draft resolution calling for an “immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire” in Gaza. The U.S., one of Israel’s closest allies, has veto power over this proposal, and its stance will be key in determining whether the resolution is adopted.
Lebanon Seeks Iranian Influence to Achieve Ceasefire
Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister appealed on Friday to Iran to help persuade Hezbollah to agree to a ceasefire deal with Israel, which would require Hezbollah to pull back from the border. A draft proposal from the U.S. was delivered to Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, who is negotiating on behalf of Hezbollah. An official, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the talks, stated that Berri is expected to respond by Monday.
Lebanese Concerns Over Sovereignty
The U.S. proposal is based on U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, which helped end the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war. However, in a statement to the pan-Arab newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat, Berri said that Lebanon does not accept any provisions in the deal that would allow Israel to act inside Lebanon if the agreement is violated. He stressed that Lebanon would never agree to any infringement on its sovereignty.
Moreover, Berri expressed concerns about the proposed creation of a committee to oversee the agreement, which would include members from Western countries. He noted that a U.N. peacekeeping force is already stationed near the Lebanese border.
Berri described the atmosphere of the talks as “positive,” but emphasized that the outcome depends on the direction of the ongoing negotiations.
(Includes inputs from online sources)
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