Israeli Strikes Kill 9 in Beirut as Hezbollah Fires 120 Rockets into Israel

The long-standing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has recently worsened with new military actions leading to more deaths and injuries.

On Friday, September 20, 2024, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) carried out an airstrike in southern Beirut, targeting a senior Hezbollah leader named Ibrahim Aqil. Aqil is a high-ranking member of Hezbollah’s military leadership and is known for his involvement in a 1983 bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Beirut that killed 63 people. The U.S. had offered $7 million for information leading to his capture or killing. While it is unclear if Aqil was killed, the strike left at least nine dead and 59 injured in a crowded residential area in Beirut.

Following the Israeli strike, Hezbollah responded by firing more than 120 rockets into northern Israel. In response, the IDF launched more airstrikes, hitting over 100 Hezbollah targets across Lebanon. One specific strike in the city of Kfarkela targeted a Hezbollah facility, but details about the results were not shared.

Due to the escalating violence, Israel raised its emergency alert to the highest level, signaling that the country is preparing for a potential full-scale war.

As tensions rise, the international community is calling for peace. U.S. officials, including State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller, have urged Israel to avoid further escalation while supporting its right to defend itself. Miller stressed that the U.S. stands by Israel but doesn’t want the situation to worsen.

European leaders, like French President Emmanuel Macron and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, have also called for a ceasefire. They want both sides to stop the fighting and find a peaceful solution so that civilians in both Israel and Lebanon can return to their homes safely.

Earlier in the week, Israel was reportedly behind an attack involving explosive devices hidden in pagers and walkie-talkies in Lebanon and Syria. This attack has added to the tensions between Israel and Hezbollah.

The United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon has warned about the growing violence along the border between Israel and Lebanon, urging both sides to step back and avoid further bloodshed.

For almost a year, Israel and Hezbollah have been exchanging fire on a regular basis, but the recent surge in violence suggests the situation is becoming more dangerous. Although efforts are being made to resolve the conflict peacefully, it’s unclear if they will be successful in stopping the violence before it escalates into a larger war.

While diplomats are working hard to prevent further violence, civilians in both Israel and Lebanon are the ones suffering the most. The hope is that both sides will choose diplomacy over conflict, but the situation remains uncertain, with the risk of war still looming over the region.