International
-Sathish Raman
Israel
has
intensified
its
military
operations
in
northern
Gaza
and
southern
Lebanon,
escalating
tensions
with
Iran-backed
militant
groups.
Palestinian
officials
reported
that
an
airstrike
on
a
mosque
resulted
in
at
least
19
fatalities.
This
development
comes
a
year
after
the
October
7,
2023,
attack
by
Hamas.
Israel
has
also
opened
a
new
front
against
Hezbollah
in
Lebanon,
which
has
been
exchanging
fire
with
Israel
since
the
conflict
in
Gaza
began.
image
In
response
to
recent
events,
Israel
has
launched
airstrikes
in
the
suburbs
of
Beirut.
The
Israeli
military
confirmed
targeting
areas
near
Beirut
and
reported
that
approximately
130
projectiles
had
been
launched
from
Lebanon
into
Israeli
territory,
with
some
being
intercepted.
“It
was
very
difficult.
All
of
us
in
Beirut
could
hear
everything,” said
resident
Haytham
Al-Darazi.
Another
resident,
Maxime
Jawad,
described
it
as
a
“night
of
terror.”
Conflict
Expands
Across
the
Region
The
conflict
risks
involving
the
United
States
further,
given
its
significant
military
and
diplomatic
support
for
Israel.
Iran-aligned
groups
in
Syria,
Iraq,
and
Yemen
have
joined
the
fray
with
long-range
strikes
on
Israel.
Meanwhile,
Israel
remains
on
high
alert
ahead
of
memorial
events
for
the
October
7
attack,
with
global
rallies
marking
the
anniversary.
In
southern
Beirut,
over
30
airstrikes
were
reported
overnight
into
Sunday
by
Lebanon’s
state-run
National
News
Agency.
The
strikes
are
part
of
Israel’s
campaign
against
Hezbollah,
which
is
considered
Lebanon’s
most
powerful
armed
force.
Hezbollah
has
launched
rockets
into
Israel
as
a
gesture
of
support
for
Palestinians.
Impact
on
Civilians
and
Infrastructure
A
strike
in
Jiyyeh
killed
three
sisters
and
their
aunt.
“This
is
a
civilian
home,
and
the
biggest
evidence
is
those
martyred
are
four
women,” stated
neighbour
Ali
Al
Hajj.
The
health
ministry
reported
25
deaths
from
Israeli
strikes
on
Saturday
alone.
In
Gaza,
an
Israeli
strike
hit
a
mosque
near
Deir
al-Balah’s
main
hospital
where
displaced
individuals
sought
refuge.
Another
strike
on
a
school-turned-shelter
resulted
in
four
more
deaths.
The
military
claimed
these
strikes
targeted
militants.
Escalation
in
Northern
Gaza
Israel
announced
a
new
offensive
in
Jabaliya,
northern
Gaza,
which
hosts
a
refugee
camp
dating
back
to
the
1948
war
surrounding
Israel’s
creation.
Despite
previous
operations
there,
militants
have
regrouped
repeatedly.
Three
Israeli
soldiers
were
severely
wounded
during
Sunday’s
fighting.
The
military
reiterated
calls
for
evacuating
northern
Gaza
due
to
its
status
as
a
dangerous
combat
zone.
Leaflets
dropped
over
the
area
warned
residents
of
the
new
phase
of
war.
Frantic
residents
fled
once
again;
Samia
Khader
shared
her
plight:
“Since
October
7
to
the
present
day,
this
is
the
12th
time
that
I
and
my
children…
do
not
know
where
to
go.”
Humanitarian
Concerns
and
Casualties
The
Civil
Defence
recovered
three
bodies
after
a
strike
hit
a
home
in
Shati
refugee
camp.
Imad
Alarabid
mourned
on
Facebook
about
an
airstrike
killing
twelve
family
members
at
his
Jabaliya
home.
Freelance
journalist
Hassan
Hamd
was
killed
in
shelling;
his
death
was
confirmed
by
Al
Jazeera
reporter
Anas
al-Sharif.
The
Gaza
Health
Ministry
reports
nearly
42,000
Palestinian
deaths
since
the
war
began,
noting
that
over
half
were
women
and
children
without
specifying
how
many
were
fighters.
