BEIRUT: Intensifying Israeli military operations across Lebanon and the Palestinian territories have left at least 18 people dead, further escalating tensions in an already volatile region, even as diplomatic efforts for a ceasefire gather pace.
In southern Lebanon, Israeli air raids struck multiple locations, including areas near Sidon and within the Nabatiyeh district, killing at least 10 people and injuring several others, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.
Among the dead were emergency responders, including a civil defence worker and two paramedics affiliated with a local rescue organisation, prompting accusations of deliberate targeting of humanitarian personnel, according to media reports.
The strikes formed part of a broader wave of attacks, with the Israeli military claiming it had hit over 200 Hezbollah-linked targets within a 24-hour period, including rocket launch sites.
The escalation comes amid an ongoing conflict that has already claimed nearly 2,000 lives in Lebanon since its outbreak.
Public grief was evident in Sidon, where large crowds gathered for the funeral of security personnel killed in earlier strikes. Emotional scenes unfolded as mourners carried flag-draped coffins, with families voicing anguish over their loss.
In Gaza, two separate Israeli airstrikes added to the mounting death toll. A strike on a police checkpoint in the Bureij refugee camp killed at least six individuals, while another in Beit Lahiya left one person dead. Several others were injured in the attacks.
The Israeli military stated that the Bureij strike targeted individuals linked to Hamas who had approached a restricted boundary line. However, no immediate explanation was offered for the strike in Beit Lahiya.
Despite a US-brokered arrangement aimed at reducing hostilities last October, violence in Gaza has persisted, with local health authorities reporting hundreds of fatalities since the agreement came into effect.
Meanwhile, in the occupied West Bank, a 23-year-old Palestinian man was shot dead during an alleged raid by Israeli settlers in the village of Deir Jarir, near Ramallah. Palestinian officials said the victim succumbed to critical injuries after being transported to hospital.
The incident marks another spike in settler-related violence, which has surged alongside broader regional unrest.
The West Bank, under Israeli occupation since 1967, has witnessed a notable increase in clashes and attacks, with international observers raising concerns over expanding settlements and deteriorating security conditions.
Against this backdrop, diplomatic efforts are under way to de-escalate the situation. Officials from Lebanon, Israel and the United States are expected to meet in Washington next week to explore the possibility of a ceasefire and initiate formal negotiations.
However, the proposed talks have drawn sharp criticism from Hezbollah, which has firmly rejected any direct engagement with Israel. The group described the initiative as a violation of Lebanon’s constitutional framework and national principles.
Protests erupted in Beirut, where demonstrators denounced the planned negotiations, accusing the government of undermining national sovereignty. Political tensions have also intensified, with senior figures warning that sidelining armed factions could lead to further instability.
As violence continues across multiple fronts, the prospects for peace remain uncertain, with both military escalation and political discord threatening to derail fragile diplomatic efforts.
