What's happened
Israeli airstrikes continue in the Dahiya area of Beirut, targeting Hezbollah facilities amid ongoing conflict. The U.S. is attempting to broker a cease-fire, but tensions remain high as both sides refuse to compromise on key demands. The humanitarian crisis in Lebanon worsens as the conflict escalates.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to the New York Times, the Israeli military has intensified its bombardment of the Dahiya area, claiming to target Hezbollah's infrastructure. Liam Stack notes that the strikes have complicated U.S. diplomatic efforts for a truce, with no indication that Hezbollah or Iran are willing to accept Israel's demands. Euan Ward highlights the humanitarian crisis, stating that the Israeli offensive has displaced nearly a quarter of Lebanon's population. Meanwhile, The Independent reports on Iranian official Ali Larijani's visit to Lebanon, emphasizing Iran's support for Hezbollah amidst the ongoing conflict. This illustrates the complex interplay of local and international dynamics at play in the region.
How we got here
The conflict escalated in September 2023 when Hezbollah began rocket attacks on Israel in solidarity with Hamas. Israel's military response has included airstrikes and a ground invasion targeting Hezbollah infrastructure, leading to significant displacement and humanitarian issues in Lebanon.
More on these topics
-
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.
-
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
-
Ali Ardeshir Larijani is an Iranian conservative politician, philosopher and former military officer in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, who served as the Speaker of the Parliament of Iran from 2008 to 2020.
-
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.
-
The Israel Defense Forces, commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal, are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force, and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has
-
Sayyid Ali Hosseini Khamenei is a Twelver Shia Marja' and the second and current supreme leader of Iran, in office since 1989. He was previously the president of Iran from 1981 to 1989.
-
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.