Escalation Continues: Israel and Hezbollah's Long-standing Conflict Rekindled After Talks
Fighting between Israeli forces and the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah has continued after Israel and Lebanon held direct talks in Washington aimed at easing the conflict.
On Wednesday, Israeli strikes hit two vehicles on the coastal highway south of Beirut, near the towns of Saadiyat and Jiyeh and outside Hezbollah's traditional strongholds. Videos from one scene showed a burned-out van, with first responders working to extinguish the flames and recover human remains. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military.
In northern Israel, a man was wounded in the town of Tamra after Hezbollah launched about 30 rockets across the border, according to medics and the military. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for launching rockets at 10 locations in northern Israel.
The Israeli military also reported continuing ground operations in southern Lebanon, striking more than 200 Hezbollah infrastructure sites, including rocket launchers, over the past 24 hours. Warnings were renewed for residents in southern Lebanon to evacuate amid ongoing air and artillery bombardment.
Although Israel has avoided striking Beirut itself since its recent wave of attacks, which Lebanese authorities say killed over 350 people in a short timeframe, strikes have continued in southern and eastern areas. Israel has also announced plans to establish a security buffer zone of up to 10 km inside Lebanese territory to protect Israeli communities from Hezbollah attacks.
The fighting intensified despite a ceasefire between the US and Iran, which Israel does not regard as applicable to its operations in Lebanon. In Washington, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio facilitated the first direct high-level contact in three decades between Israeli and Lebanese officials, framing it as a significant opportunity amidst the longstanding conflict. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun expressed cautious optimism about the potential outcomes of these negotiations.
However, no ceasefire was established at the meeting, exposing significant divisions within Lebanon. Hezbollah's leadership rejected the negotiations, stressing the need for a comprehensive ceasefire rather than a mere return to the previous pattern of strikes and violence.
As the violence escalates, the humanitarian crisis across Lebanon deepens. Since hostilities resumed in March, at least 2,124 people have been reported killed, including many civilians, while over a million have been displaced by the conflict. In contrast, 12 Israeli soldiers and two civilians have reportedly been killed by Hezbollah forces amid the ongoing clashes.
