Just hours after a ceasefire between the United States and Iran brought relief to the world and raised hopes of de-escalation in West Asia, Israel launched one of its deadliest overnight offensives in Lebanon causing widespread destruction and mass casualties.
Lebanon’s Civil Defence said in a statement that at least 254 people were killed and over 1,100 injured as airstrikes pounded multiple regions, including Beirut, the Bekaa Valley, Mount Lebanon, Sidon, and southern villages.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) argued that strikes were aimed at dismantling infrastructure linked to Hezbollah.
The targets were key crossings over the Litani River, part of what Israel describes as a broader strategy to isolate southern Lebanon and establish a buffer zone extending roughly 30 kilometres from its border.
The IDF also claimed to have killed Ali Yusuf Harshi, identified as a relative of Hezbollah’s top leadership, though the group has yet to confirm the report.
The scale and intensity of the operation stunned the world . Israeli forces reportedly struck nearly 100 sites within minutes, with UN officials describing the bombardment as “enormous” and “dramatic.”
Hospitals across Lebanon are struggling to cope, with urgent appeals for blood donations as casualty figures continue to climb.
The United Nations condemned the strikes, warning that they came at a moment when hopes for peace were beginning to emerge. UN Special Coordinator Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert said the renewed violence underscored the futility of military escalation, stressing that neither side could achieve victory through force.
The humanitarian situation has deteriorated rapidly. According to UN officials, more than 1.2 million people, nearly a fifth of Lebanon’s population, have been displaced since hostilities intensified, surpassing levels seen during the 2024 Israel-Hezbollah conflict.
Aid agencies warn that vulnerable groups are bearing the brunt. United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) estimates that over 13,000 pregnant women are among the displaced, many cut off from medical care.
Health services are nearing collapse, with the World Health Organization verifying more than 100 attacks on healthcare facilities.
The ceasefire between Washington and Tehran had been viewed as a potential window to stabilise the wider region but the continued clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah have shadowed the peace talks .
UN spokesperson Farhan Haq urged all sides to seize the moment for dialogue, emphasising that only sustained negotiations, not military action,can bring a lasting resolution to the conflict.
As the region stands at a fragile crossroads, the overnight escalation in Lebanon highlights how quickly hopes for peace can be overtaken by the realities of war.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Thursday said that halting Israeli attacks in Lebanon is a key condition for implementing Iran’s 10-point plan aimed at ending the Middle East conflict.
“The ceasefire, with the acceptance of the general principles desired by Iran, was the fruit of the blood of our great martyred leader Khamenei and the achievement of the presence of all the people on the scene.
From today onward, we will remain united, whether in diplomacy, defense, public mobilization, or service provision,” Pezeshkian said.
