BEIRUT (AP) - The situation in southern Lebanon escalated dramatically on Tuesday as Israel deployed additional troops and issued warnings for residents of over 80 villages to evacuate. This comes in response to provocative actions from Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group, which stated it was prepared for "open war" with Israel following recent U.S.-Israeli military actions against Iran.
The tensions were ignited after Hezbollah fired rockets and launched drones toward northern Israel on Monday morning. In retaliation, Israel conducted a series of airstrikes that reportedly resulted in the deaths of 50 individuals in Lebanon, which included seven children and a Palestinian militant, along with a Hezbollah intelligence officer in the southern suburbs of Beirut. This figure was later confirmed by Lebanese Health Minister Rakan Nassereddine, who fluctuated the reported casualties, initially estimating them at 52 before revising them down to 40, then back to 50.
In addition to the fatalities, the Lebanese Health Ministry reported 335 injuries and noted that tens of thousands were displaced as a result of the violence. The U.N. refugee agency indicated that 30,000 displaced persons were taking refuge in collective shelters across Lebanon, while many others slept in their vehicles or along roadsides, unable to find safe accommodations.
Hezbollah's leadership has expressed that continued Israeli incursions left them no choice but to confront Israel militarily. "The Zionist enemy wanted an open war, which it has not stopped since the ceasefire agreement," declared senior Hezbollah official Mohamoud Komati. He underscored the group’s shift from decades of restraint to an explicit declaration of war against Israel.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun contacted ambassadors from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the U.S., France, and Egypt on Tuesday to inform them that Hezbollah has launched missiles from areas north of the Litani River, an area where Lebanese troops previously indicated they were in control.
In response to the ongoing conflict, the Israeli military confirmed it had sent more troops into southern Lebanon and secured strategic positions close to the border. Lebanese state media reported that the Lebanese army was repositioning its forces along the border to adapt to the evolving security situation.
Confirming reports from UNIFIL, the U.N. peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, Israeli troops were observed making incursions into Lebanese territory before returning to Israel. The Israeli military acknowledged its operations within Lebanon but did not clarify the number of soldiers remaining there.
This round of hostilities marks an escalation after Hezbollah began its attacks in October 2023, following a Hamas-led offensive in Israel. A comprehensive war erupted in September 2024, prompting Israel to launch a ground invasion into Lebanon. Although most Israeli forces withdrew after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in November 2024, Israel maintained control over five strategic points within Lebanon and continued frequent airstrikes, arguing that Hezbollah has been attempting to rebuild its military infrastructure.
The Health Ministry in Lebanon reported a total of 397 fatalities from Israeli strikes in Lebanon following the ceasefire and prior to Hezbollah's latest military actions.
Additionally, the recent escalation has triggered a significant movement of refugees, with thousands of Syrians residing in Lebanon fleeing back into Syria to escape the Israeli airstrikes. The UNHCR noted an increase in border crossings, with the number swelling to over 10,600 on Monday, compared to daily averages of 3,900 to 4,400 during the Islamic month of Ramadan.
Witness accounts highlighted the desperate conditions, with Azzam Sweiri, a Syrian farm laborer, describing long delays and hazardous situations while escaping. “It took us 10 or 12 hours just to make it 30 or 40 kilometers,” he recounted, adding that shortly after his departure, an Israeli airstrike hit a neighboring house.
