Israeli Strikes on Lebanon Continue for Second Day

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Facts

  • After launching a massive wave of strikes across Lebanon on Monday, Israel continued its bombing campaign on Tuesday. Israeli strikes so far have reportedly killed around 560 people, injured over 1.8K, and displaced tens of thousands from southern and eastern Lebanon.[1][2]
  • An Israeli strike on Tuesday targeted Beirut's southern suburbs, with anonymous Lebanese authorities reporting that the head of Hezbollah’s missile unit, Ibrahim Qubaisi, was killed. The Lebanese health ministry said that the strike killed at least six and injured 15.[3][4]
  • Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati is expected to travel to New York City on Tuesday 'to make further contacts' regarding Israel's operation. Tuesday is the first day of the general debate of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly.[5]
  • The Israeli Military's Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi said on Tuesday that “Hezbollah must not be given a break,' adding that Israel will accelerate its military operations in Lebanon. Israel has said its goal is to remove Hezbollah from the border, degrade its military capabilities, and return displaced residents to northern Israel.[6][2][7]
  • Hezbollah has responded to the strikes with fresh barrages of rockets targeting northern Israel. Hezbollah said on Tuesday that Israel was dropping leaflets into eastern Lebanon with barcodes on them that 'withdraw all information' from any device that scans them. Israel has not commented on the matter.[7][8]
  • In his final speech to the UN General Assembly as president, US Pres. Joe Biden said on Tuesday that the US was still working toward a cease-fire in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages. Regarding Lebanon, he said that a 'full-scale war is not in anyone’s interest,' adding that 'a diplomatic solution is still possible.'[9]

Sources: [1]Associated Press, [2]BBC News, [3]Timesofisrael (a), [4]Timesofisrael (b), [5]Alarabiya, [6]Timesofisrael (c), [7]Al Jazeera, [8]Reuters and [9]Guardian.

Narratives

  • Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by New York Times. Though the situation in the region continues to escalate, the US has stood firm in its role as a mediator. Israel has every right to respond to Hezbollah's daily terror attacks along its northern border. However, it is in no one's interest for tensions to explode into a wider regional war. The US will continue to work toward regional stability.
  • Pro-Israel narrative, as provided by Jerusalem Post. Israel has been incredibly patient regarding the situation in the north, but after a year of daily terror attacks on Israeli civilians, Israel has been forced to deal with Hezbollah more aggressively. Israel gave civilians plenty of time to evacuate and acted in a precise manner, hitting rockets and missiles that were being stored in civilian homes. Israel wants peace more than anyone, but it cannot allow Hezbollah and other Iran-backed terror groups to threaten its society in such an existential way.
  • Pro-Palestine narrative, as provided by Middle East Eye. It is clear that Israel is using the same strategy in Lebanon that it has used in Gaza — the forced displacement of the civilian population. Indeed, Israel seeks to spread terror among the Lebanese people to punish them for standing with Gaza. Israel has provided no evidence that civilian homes are being used to store munitions, and even if that were true, it wouldn't justify displacing whole regions of Lebanon.
  • Narrative D, as provided by Almayadeen. The attacks against Lebanon are a clear example of Israeli terrorism in the region and its disregard for human life. Hezbollah opened a support front with Israel to stand in solidarity with Gaza, which has faced a genocidal Israeli campaign. Its attacks will end when Israel withdraws from Gaza. Nonetheless, Hezbollah is ready and able to defend Lebanon from Israeli aggression.