Israel’s military escalated its campaign against Hezbollah with an airstrike in a Beirut suburb on Friday, killing a senior commander and other operatives, and intensifying fears of all-out war in Lebanon.
The assault targeted the group’s communications and logistics networks, collapsing a residential building and severely damaging another, leaving at least 14 people dead, according to Lebanese health officials and rescue workers.
The strike claimed the life of prominent Hezbollah leader Ibrahim Aqil, along with other senior commanders, according to Israeli authorities.
Hezbollah confirmed Aqil’s death in a statement, referring to him as being “martyred with a group of brothers,” but did not provide further details.
This attack is the culmination of a week-long offensive that has seen Israel targeting Hezbollah’s conventional military capabilities as well as undermining its morale.
Strikes have focused on densely populated areas of the Lebanese capital, aiming at both leadership figures and rank-and-file members. Israel has also employed unconventional methods, such as rigging pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah members to explode, causing significant casualties.
These actions are part of a broader strategy by Israel, which is also engaged in military operations in Gaza. The aim is to neutralize Hezbollah’s threat to northern Israel, allowing displaced Israelis to return home. However, the risk of escalating into a regional conflict remains high.
“We are witnessing a dangerous cycle of violence with devastating consequences,” warned Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, the United Nations special coordinator for Lebanon.
Despite international concerns, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant signaled no intention to de-escalate, stating, “The series of operations in the new phase of the war will continue until we achieve our goal.”
According to a U.S. defense official, Gallant did not inform Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin of the strike beforehand during their conversation on Friday morning.
Ibrahim Aqil, who led Hezbollah’s operations, was also sought by the U.S. for his alleged involvement in the abduction of Americans in Lebanon during the 1980s.
“We still believe that there is time and space for a diplomatic solution,” said National Security Council spokesman John Kirby during a Friday briefing.
He emphasized that the White House has been attempting to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah for months, amidst a long-standing border conflict that has displaced tens of thousands on both sides.
Hezbollah, however, has refused to negotiate as long as Israel continues its bombardment of Gaza, where over 41,000 people have reportedly died.
“War is not inevitable,” Kirby asserted. “And we’re going to continue to do everything we can to try to prevent it.”
However, for many in Lebanon, war already seems a grim reality. The violence escalated dramatically earlier in the week when thousands of pagers carried by Hezbollah members detonated simultaneously, sending a wave of wounded into hospitals across the country. The next day, explosions from rigged walkie-talkies and communication devices at a crowded funeral added to the carnage.
Lebanese Health Ministry officials reported that the attacks killed at least 37 people and injured over 3,000, including both Hezbollah members and civilians.
The explosive devices caused severe injuries, with many victims suffering from hand, eye, and abdominal wounds, according to doctors.
While U.S. officials acknowledged that Israel was responsible for the operation, they indicated that the Israelis had not shared specific details before the strike, instead relaying information afterward through intelligence channels.
The exact mechanism behind the simultaneous detonation of thousands of communication devices remains unclear, raising questions about the methods used in what U.N. human rights chief Volker Türk described as “a new development in warfare.”
“Communication tools become weapons, simultaneously exploding across marketplaces, on street corners, and in homes as daily life unfolds,” Türk told the U.N. Security Council on Friday. He condemned the operation, saying, “It is a war crime to commit violence intended to spread terror among civilians.”
In Beirut, rescue teams worked under floodlights late into the night at the strike site. George Haber, a doctor at Sainte Theresa Hospital, described the scenes as harrowing. “The sight of the injured is devastating,” he said, noting the severity of the casualties, many of whom arrived with head injuries and missing limbs.
Analysts interpret Israel’s current strategy as an effort to weaken Hezbollah’s operational capabilities and undermine its confidence, especially in light of the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Mairav Zonszein, a senior analyst with Crisis Group, suggested that Israel’s goal is to either leverage its position for a larger conflict or push Hezbollah to de-escalate.
“They’re trying to peel away Hezbollah’s abilities, take apart its confidence, restore its deterrence, and see if it can be successful in getting Hezbollah to break this Gaza front,” Zonszein explained.
However, the situation remains perilous, with the potential for missteps high. Hezbollah has vowed to retaliate, and although the U.S. maintains leverage over Israel through substantial arms transfers, its influence seems increasingly fragile.
In an opinion piece for Yediot Ahronoth, columnist Nahum Barnea questioned Israel’s strategy, writing, “There is technology. Is there strategy?” He critiqued the belief that military pressure alone can achieve Israel’s goals, cautioning that “this is not what happens in reality.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has revised the war’s objectives to include the safe return of approximately 67,000 residents to their homes near the border, from which they have been displaced due to the fighting.
The Israeli government is covering accommodation costs for these displaced individuals, but many believe that only a decisive military victory over Hezbollah will enable them to return.
Meanwhile, in southern Lebanon, about 110,000 people have been forced to flee, with 114 civilians and noncombatants killed, according to data.
“The region is on the brink of a catastrophe,” stated Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, on Friday, reflecting the deepening crisis and the urgent need for diplomatic efforts to prevent further bloodshed.
