BEIRUT: Lebanon’s health ministry said on Tuesday that Israeli airstrikes killed 41 people and injured 124 in the previous day’s attacks, with over half of the casualties occurring in the northern Christian village of Aito.
This recent violence has contributed to a rising death toll, which now stands at 1,356 since Israel launched an intensified air campaign in Lebanon on September 23.
The latest strikes have intensified an already volatile situation in the region, prompting Hezbollah to respond militarily. On Tuesday, Hezbollah reported targeting Israeli bulldozers and a Merkava tank near the southern Lebanese border village of Ramia, claiming to have inflicted casualties and caused fires with guided missiles.
Meanwhile, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati expressed the country’s readiness to bolster the army’s presence in southern Lebanon, contingent upon a ceasefire to end weeks of Israeli air strikes.
“Currently, we have 4,500 soldiers in south Lebanon, and we wish to add between 7,000 and 11,000,” Mikati stated, noting that the government plans to recruit an additional 1,500 troops initially. He emphasized the Lebanese state’s commitment to asserting sovereignty over its territory, particularly in areas dominated by Hezbollah.
Mikati said that the international community has engaged in “serious efforts” to impose a ceasefire, which Hezbollah has already accepted. He said that Israeli airstrikes have displaced approximately 1.2 million people from their homes, mainly in southern and eastern Lebanon, as well as in the densely populated southern suburbs of Beirut.
To mitigate the risk of Israeli attacks, security has been intensified at Beirut’s international airport, which is located near Hezbollah’s stronghold. Mikati said that all incoming flights and cargo are subjected to thorough inspections to eliminate potential justifications for Israeli strikes.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to “mercilessly strike Lebanon – including Beirut,” following an attack by Hezbollah on Israeli forces. Meanwhile, Hezbollah deputy chief Naim Qassem warned that the only viable solution to the ongoing conflict is a ceasefire, asserting that the group cannot be defeated.
