Lebanese Prime Minister reports that Israeli airstrikes have displaced over a million people, escalating the humanitarian crisis in the region. Explore the latest developments and their impact on civilians.
Israeli airstrikes on Hezbollah facilities in Lebanon have forced around one million people to flee, according to estimates by Acting Prime Minister Najib Mikati. He claimed the scale of the exodus was unprecedented in the country’s history.
Israel and Hezbollah have exchanged sporadic gunfire since Israel launched a military operation in Gaza on October 7 in response to a deadly Hamas incursion. Israel massively escalated its operations against the Shiite militant group earlier this month, wounding thousands in a sabotage attack on the group’s mobile communications equipment.
This was followed by a flurry of airstrikes as part of the Israel Defense Forces’ Operation Northern Arrows. According to Lebanese health officials, at least 1,300 people have been killed in the Israeli crackdown.
“Lebanon is experiencing the largest wave of displacement in its history,” Mikati said at a press conference on Sunday, reported by Turkey’s Anadolu Agency. The official said Beirut’s “priority is to thwart the ongoing Israeli aggression through sustained diplomatic efforts.”
On Thursday, Lebanese Health Minister Firas Abyad told RT that he was of the opinion that “the main purpose of these (Israeli) indiscriminate attacks…” was “to spread an atmosphere of fear and cause a mass exodus.”
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On Saturday, the Israeli Foreign Ministry and the Israel Defense Forces claimed that the recent airstrikes had “eliminated” almost the entire senior Hezbollah military leadership.
Earlier in the day, Israeli forces announced the killing of the militant group’s leader Hassan Nasrallah in the Lebanese capital. A few hours later, the Shiite group confirmed his death and vowed to continue its “holy war in the fight against our enemies.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed earlier this week to continue a major military operation against Hezbollah despite ceasefire offers from the United States and France.
Meanwhile, ABC News reported on Saturday, citing an unnamed US official, that the IDF plans to invade southern Lebanon soon, but the outlet insisted the operation would be “very limited”.
On Wednesday, IDF chief of staff Lt. Gen. Helgi Halevi told troops based on Israel’s northern border that last week’s airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon were aimed at “preparing the area for a possible invasion”.
Halevi said Israel would continue the operation until it had ensured the safe return of civilians displaced by Hezbollah attacks in the north.
