Israeli strikes on Lebanon continue as Iran says Hezbollah ‘cannot stand alone’

On Tuesday, Israel targeted Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon, while the Iran-supported militant group launched rockets into northern Israel. This exchange occurred just a day after a series of Israeli airstrikes resulted in the deaths of nearly 500 people in Lebanon, forcing tens of thousands to seek refuge.

Hezbollah announced that it struck multiple Israeli military sites overnight, including a bomb production facility located approximately 35 miles (60 km) inside Israel. Additionally, they hit the Megiddo airfield close to Afula in three separate attacks.

Israeli officials reported that over 50 projectiles were launched from Lebanon into the northern region of Israel on Tuesday morning, with the majority being intercepted.

The ongoing violence has sparked concerns that the United States, a strong partner of Israel, and Iran, which has armed groups throughout the Middle East, could become involved in a larger conflict. On Tuesday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian voiced worries about a potential regional war, but he emphasized that Hezbollah, an organization backed by Iran since its inception in 1983, "cannot fight alone" against Israel.

In an interview with CNN, Pezeshkian remarked that Hezbollah is unable to operate on its own in opposition to a nation that receives backing, assistance, and resources from Western and European nations, as well as the United States.

Josep Borrell, the European Union's foreign policy chief, characterized the intensifying clash between Israel and Hezbollah as nearly a "complete war." This statement came as global leaders convened in New York for the start of the 79th United Nations General Assembly.

"Unless this is considered a war, I’m not sure what else to label it," Borrell remarked prior to the UN meeting, referring to the rising civilian deaths and the severity of military attacks. He mentioned that attempts to ease tensions are ongoing, but the most concerning predictions for Europe regarding a potential escalation are starting to materialize.

The US echoed that warning, with a high-ranking official from the State Department stating that Washington is in talks with its allies and partners about “specific plans” to stop the conflict from escalating.

Diplomatic initiatives seem to have made little difference up to this point, as Lebanon experienced more deaths on Monday than on any other single day since the civil war began in 1975 and lasted for 15 years.

Israeli authorities have stated that the increased airstrikes aimed at Hezbollah positions in Lebanon are intended to pressure the group into accepting a diplomatic resolution, stopping its attacks on Israel, or pulling back its forces from the disputed border area.

Numerous specialists and officials are skeptical about the belief that air strikes or other military actions can accomplish these broader strategic goals. Additionally, some highlight that Hezbollah has consistently promised to halt their attacks on Israel if a ceasefire is established in Gaza.

A representative from the US State Department stated, "I don't remember, at least in the near past, a time when an increase in tension or conflict resulted in a significant decrease in those tensions and brought about a lasting stabilization of the situation."

Nearly a year into its conflict with Hamas in Gaza, Israel has redirected its attention to its northern border. In the aftermath of the Hamas raid on southern Israel on October 7, which sparked the ongoing war, around 60,000 residents from northern Israel were evacuated. They have been unable to return home due to the ongoing clashes along the disputed border with Lebanon.

Israel's defense minister, Yoav Gallant, announced that the airstrike operations will persist until people can return to their homes. He mentioned that Monday represented a "notable high point" in the ongoing conflict that has lasted nearly a year.

"This week has been the toughest for Hezbollah since it was formed, and the evidence is clear," Gallant stated. "Whole units were removed from combat due to the actions taken earlier this week, during which many militants were injured."

The Israeli military announced that their airstrikes targeted long-range cruise missiles, heavy rockets, short-range rockets, and explosive drones.

Even though Hezbollah has stayed resilient, it is clear that the series of attacks has increased the pressure on the organization. They were already struggling after suffering significant losses the previous week when numerous pagers and walkie-talkies belonging to its members malfunctioned and exploded.

The operation resulted in the deaths of 42 individuals and left thousands injured. Many people held Israel responsible for the incident, although the country has neither acknowledged nor refuted its involvement.

The United States has announced that it will deploy a limited number of extra troops to the Middle East in response to the rising tensions in the region.

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati called on the United Nations and global leaders to take action against what he described as Israel’s strategy to obliterate Lebanese villages and towns. He announced that he would be postponing a planned cabinet meeting to travel to New York for discussions with various leaders in an effort to halt the ongoing violence.

In Lebanon, families forced from their homes found refuge in makeshift shelters set up in schools in Beirut and the coastal city of Sidon. As hotels filled up rapidly and room rates became unaffordable for many, those without a place to stay had to sleep in their cars, in parks, or along the waterfront.

Supporters shared vacant apartments and spare rooms in their homes through social media, while volunteers established a kitchen in an abandoned gas station in Beirut to prepare meals for those who have been displaced.

In the eastern city of Baalbek, the government’s National News Agency indicated that people lined up at bakeries and gas stations, eager to gather essential items as they prepared for potential new strikes.

In northern Israel, Galilee Medical Center reported that two individuals came in with minor head injuries after a rocket landed close to their vehicle. Additionally, several others received care for minor injuries sustained while rushing to shelters and from traffic accidents triggered by the sirens.

The Biden administration has consistently advocated for a diplomatic resolution to the crisis at the Israel-Lebanon border. However, during a phone conversation with Gallant on Monday, he stated that the US is prepared to safeguard its forces and personnel while also aiming to prevent any regional players from taking advantage of the situation or escalating the conflict.

French authorities have asked for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council to talk about the current situation and urged all parties to prevent any escalation in the region.

China's chief diplomat, Wang Yi, showed solidarity with Lebanon and criticized what he referred to as "random assaults on civilians," according to the Chinese foreign ministry's statement on Tuesday.