According to the NNA, there were further attacks during the night and morning, especially in the south of the country. Local media reported dozens of attacks in various areas of southern Lebanon. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Monday evening that he would intensify attacks against Hezbollah. In light of this, concerns about further escalation are growing in Lebanon.
Numerous residents from the southern suburbs of the capital Beirut left their homes at night for fear of Israeli attacks. Hezbollah has a strong presence in the suburbs.
According to a count by the Lebanese news site L’Orient Today, there was already a sharp increase in Israeli attacks on Monday. Israeli warplanes carried out 76 air strikes on 44 targets in Lebanon. There were also 15 drone attacks and artillery shelling at 25 locations, the report said.
In the wake of the Iran war, there was a renewed escalation between Israel and the pro-Iranian Hezbollah at the beginning of March. In mid-April, the Israeli and Lebanese governments – which themselves are not parties to the conflict – concluded a ceasefire. Hezbollah itself rejects negotiations with Israel. The attacks have continued since then from both sides. Almost 3,200 deaths have been reported in Lebanon since the beginning of March.
Observers fear that a further intensification of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon could also complicate the ongoing negotiations between the USA and Iran to end the war. Tehran insists that the proposed framework agreement must cover both the war with the USA and Israel as well as Israel’s conflict with Hezbollah. (sda/dpa)