What's happened
Recent Israeli airstrikes in Beirut have intensified the ongoing conflict with Hezbollah, resulting in significant casualties and displacement. The strikes follow a year of escalating violence, with both sides exchanging attacks. The situation remains volatile as Hezbollah continues to retaliate, raising concerns of a broader regional conflict.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to the New York Times, the recent Israeli strikes have resulted in significant destruction in Beirut, with videos showing plumes of smoke rising from targeted buildings. Euan Ward notes that the strikes are part of Israel's strategy to dismantle Hezbollah's infrastructure. Meanwhile, Vivian Yee highlights the sentiments of Lebanese citizens who feel that they are paying the price for a conflict that is not theirs to fight. The Independent reports on Hezbollah's continued rocket attacks despite heavy losses, indicating a determination to retaliate against Israeli operations. This sentiment is echoed by the South China Morning Post, which emphasizes the devastating impact of the conflict on civilians in Lebanon. The situation remains precarious, with both sides preparing for further confrontations.
How we got here
The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has escalated since October 2023, when Hezbollah began launching rockets into Israel in solidarity with Hamas. Israel has responded with extensive military operations aimed at dismantling Hezbollah's capabilities, leading to significant civilian displacement in both Lebanon and northern Israel.
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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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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Hassan Nasrallah is the third and current Secretary General of the Lebanese political and paramilitary party Hezbollah since his predecessor, Abbas al-Musawi, was assassinated by the Israel Defense Forces in February 1992.
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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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Gaza may refer to:
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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