(NewsNation) — Israel is expanding evacuation warnings in Lebanon, telling people in more than 20 towns and villages to leave — a possible sign that Israel’s invasion may soon widen.
Tensions in the Middle East show no signs of simmering with Israel’s latest airstrike in the Lebanese capital of Beirut that killed seven health and rescue workers overnight into early Thursday morning
Israeli attacks have displaced more than 1.2 million Lebanese and killed nearly 2,000 people in the past year, predominately during the past two weeks, Lebanese authorities said.
This is the latest development in Israel’s ground operations in efforts to weaken Hezbollah, a Lebanese Islamist militant group. The target was a multistory apartment building that houses an office for civilian first responders affiliated with Hezbollah, the Associated Press reported. The airstrike was the closest strike to the central downtown district of Beirut, where the United Nations and government offices are located.
Last week, Israel conducted an airstrike that killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, which added fuel to an already growing fire of cross-border tension. Iran, which heavily backs Hezbollah, launched nearly 200 missiles Tuesday in retaliation for the killing of Nasrallah, as well as Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in late July.
The United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting Wednesday to address the events of what could lead to a possible regional war.
Iran’s U.N. Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani told the council the missile strike targeting Israel was “a necessary and proportionate response to Israel’s continued terrorist aggressive acts over the past two months.”
Israel and Hezbollah have a long history of hostility and violence. Hezbollah was formed in 1982 in response to the 15-year Israeli invasion of Lebanon. Western states and Israel consider Hezbollah a terrorist organization, but the group has major political power in Lebanon’s national elections and operates schools, hospitals, charities and other entities.
The current regional conflict broke out after Hamas, a Palestinian Islamist militant group, attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023 — the deadliest attack in Israeli history. Israel declared war and invaded Gaza the next day.
At the same time, Hezbollah started firing at Israel in support of Gaza, forcing a cross-border conflict. The first anniversary of the attack that killed 1,200 people is four days away.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran’s latest missile attack on Israel failed.
“Iran made a big mistake tonight — and it will pay for it,” Netanyahu said Tuesday night after the Iranian missile attack. “The regime in Iran does not understand our determination to defend ourselves and our determination to retaliate against our enemies.”
Southern Turkey welcomed Lebanese evacuees on a ferry Thursday following the Beirut airstrike. Israel’s military forces have been actively operating in southern Lebanon as they attempt to damage Hezbollah’s infrastructure. People are leaving Lebanon out of fear for their safety, and almost two dozen countries are working together for a possible evacuation of citizens, Reuters reported.
Japan has readied its military jets for evacuations of Japanese citizens from Lebanon, while Australia has planned evacuation flights for its Australian citizens, the AP reported.
In Israel, schools are closed as the Jewish holiday Rosh Hashanah began Wednesday and runs through Friday, but people are on edge as the area braces for a response from Iran. Emergency sirens are going off about every hour in northern Israel, according to NewsNation’s Robert Sherman, who is on the ground reporting.
On Monday, President Joe Biden said the U.S. is prepared to help Israel defend against the Iranian missile attack, but by Wednesday, he told reporters “no,” he does not support an attack on Iran’s nuclear sites should Israel retaliate.