What's happened
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has intensified, resulting in significant casualties and mass displacement. Recent airstrikes have led to the deadliest day in Lebanon since the civil war, with over 580 fatalities reported. Civilians are fleeing their homes amid fears of further violence as the situation escalates.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to The Guardian, the situation in Kiriat Bialik has become dire, with residents expressing a desire for peace amidst the chaos. Lorenzo Tondo reports that the town has been under threat from Hezbollah rockets, leading to injuries and property damage. Al Jazeera highlights the plight of civilians like Zahra, who fled their homes due to Israeli airstrikes, marking the deadliest day in Lebanon in decades. Sky News corroborates this, noting that the main coastal road to Beirut is gridlocked with families trying to escape the violence, emphasizing the urgency of the humanitarian crisis.
How we got here
The current escalation follows the 7 October attacks, with Hezbollah and Israeli forces exchanging fire along the Lebanon-Israel border. Israeli airstrikes have targeted Hezbollah positions, prompting retaliatory rocket fire into northern Israel, affecting civilian life significantly.
More on these topics
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Israel, formally known as the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea.
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Lebanon, officially known as the Lebanese Republic, is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south, while Cyprus lies west across the Mediterranean Sea.
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Hezbollah is a Shia Islamist political party and militant group based in Lebanon. Hezbollah's paramilitary wing is the Jihad Council, and its political wing is the Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc party in the Lebanese parliament.