The Lebanese Prime Minister, Nawaf Salam, has communicated that his nation stands at the brink of a “new war” following Israel’s latest onslaught of airstrikes on Hezbollah, which have resulted in the deaths of at least two individuals. Noting the peril this situation posits for Lebanon, Salam has implored the international community to take earnest action. In response to these strikes, two people were killed and eight others injured, including three children, as indicated by the country’s National News Agency and the government-run Public Health Emergency Operation Center. The Israeli military operations targeted at least 14 areas south of the country, heightening tensions significantly.
Liberation from Israeli occupation remains an unresolved aspect of Lebanon’s endeavors, after the supposedly agreed-upon ceasefire in November failed to lead to Israel’s complete withdrawal from Lebanese territory. An extended deadline of February 18 was set for Israeli recede; however, five locations within Lebanon still host Israeli forces. Salam has unequivocally stated that Lebanon must assert its sovereignty over its fields of war and peace.
Further exacerbating matters, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has denounced any actions aimed at destabilizing his nation and inciting violence, urging for measures to be implemented to prevent further conflict escalation. Meanwhile, Israel claims that the recent strikes against Hezbollah were in response to purported rocket fire from Lebanon, a charge Hezbollah vehemently denies, labeling Israel’s claims as pretexts for ongoing aggression.
Zeina Khodr, Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Beirut, has reported that local officials are in negotiations with a US-led committee overseeing the ceasefire, aiming to diffuse the rising tensions. However, this development signifies the most severe overflow of the Gaza conflict thus far, drawing the region closer to further unrest.
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) expressed its concerns regarding the escalating violence along the border, warning of potential severe repercussions for the region if the hostilities are to intensify. Political analyst Sultan Barakat of Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Doha suggests that the resistance will persist as long as the Israeli occupation remains.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/22/lebanon-warns-of-new-war-as-israel-launches-fresh-deadly-strikes?traffic_source=rss
