Image Credits - Al Jazeera
Israeli military forces launched strikes on several villages in southern Lebanon overnight, including Kfarkela, Aita Ash Shab, and Markaba. The attacks resulted in damage to infrastructure and left a civilian injured in Markaba. These military actions come as international and regional diplomats intensify their efforts to prevent a broader regional conflict.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty arrived in Beirut on Friday afternoon, following visits by French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne and U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein earlier in the week. Both Sejourne and Hochstein had underscored the urgent need for a ceasefire in Gaza to stabilize Lebanon and mitigate further regional unrest.
Abdelatty’s visit coincided with the resumption of flights to Beirut by Air France and its subsidiary Transavia, which had suspended operations amid rising tensions in late July. The escalation followed the assassination of Hezbollah commander Fouad Shukr in a July 30 strike in Beirut, which also resulted in civilian casualties. This incident, coupled with the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, has fueled retaliatory threats from Iran and Hezbollah, exacerbating fears of a larger conflict.
Hezbollah has been involved in daily cross-border skirmishes with Israel since October 8, claiming these actions are in support of Hamas. The Iranian-backed group has vowed to continue its attacks until a ceasefire is achieved in Gaza, where the ongoing Israeli military campaign has resulted in over 40,000 Palestinian deaths since its inception.
Recent ceasefire negotiations in Doha may offer some hope for de-escalation. Still, Hezbollah’s deputy secretary general, Naim Qassem, warned that their response to Shukr’s assassination remains unaffected by these talks. Qassem criticized U.S. efforts, suggesting that the American envoy’s proposals were inadequate and that there was a significant gap in diplomatic initiatives.
As the situation remains volatile, diplomatic efforts are crucial in seeking a resolution to the conflict and preventing further escalation in the region.