What's happened
Since September 23, Israel has intensified military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon, displacing over 90,000 civilians. This escalation follows ongoing hostilities with Hamas in Gaza, raising fears of a broader regional conflict. Israeli officials claim the strikes target Hezbollah strongholds, while the humanitarian impact continues to grow.
Why it matters
What the papers say
The Independent reports that Israel's bombardment of Lebanon is the deadliest since the end of the Lebanese Civil War, with Defence Minister Yoav Gallant claiming it to be a significant blow to Hezbollah. Meanwhile, the New York Times highlights the extensive military operations across multiple fronts, including Yemen, and notes the political implications for Netanyahu's government as it faces increasing pressure at home. The humanitarian impact is underscored by reports of civilian casualties and displacement, with the Pentagon's troop deployment indicating a potential escalation of U.S. involvement in the conflict.
How we got here
The conflict escalated after Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in over 240 hostages taken. In response, Hezbollah began launching attacks from Lebanon, prompting Israel to retaliate with significant airstrikes targeting Hezbollah positions.
Common question
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What are the latest developments in the Israel-Hezbollah conflict?
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has escalated significantly since late September 2024, with military operations intensifying and humanitarian crises deepening in both Lebanon and Gaza. As tensions rise, many are left wondering about the implications of these developments on regional stability and the humanitarian situation. Here are some key questions and answers to help you understand the current landscape.
More on these topics
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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.
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Hamas is a Palestinian Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist militant organization. It has a social service wing, Dawah, and a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.
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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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Pope Francis is the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State. Francis is the first Jesuit pope, the first from the Americas, the first from the Southern Hemisphere, and the first pope from outside Europe since the Syrian Gregory
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Benjamin Netanyahu is an Israeli politician serving as Prime Minister of Israel since 2009, and previously from 1996 to 1999. Netanyahu is also the Chairman of the Likud – National Liberal Movement.
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Iran, also called Persia, and officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered to the northwest by Armenia and Azerbaijan, to the north by the Caspian Sea, to the northeast by Turkmenistan, to the east by Afghanistan a
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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.