Israel continued its bombardment of Lebanon on Friday, issuing extensive evacuation warnings in the southern region as the conflict with Hezbollah militants persisted, despite efforts led by the U.S. for a cease-fire.
The Israeli military reported launching "a series of raids" on Dahiya, an area near Beirut controlled by Hezbollah. This region, which once housed a significant civilian population, has been heavily targeted since the onset of the war, with intensified strikes in recent days.
Additional attacks occurred near the southern port city of Tyre, coinciding with Lebanon's independence day celebrations, following Israeli military calls for civilians to evacuate entire towns and move more than 20 miles north.
Lebanon's health ministry reported that two separate Israeli strikes in the south resulted in the deaths of five paramedics. The health system in Lebanon has faced 126 attacks this year, leading to the deaths of 223 health workers and injuries to 183 others, according to Abdinasir Abubakar, the U.N. World Health Organization’s representative in Lebanon. He noted that most casualties were from attacks on ambulances.
Analysts suggest that Israel's increased strikes are aimed at pressuring Hezbollah to agree to a cease-fire on terms favorable to Israel. Amos Hochstein, the U.S. envoy seeking to end the conflict, discussed potential deal terms with Israeli officials during his visit to Israel on Thursday.
While U.S. and Israeli officials have shared few public details regarding the terms of a potential agreement, an Israeli official expressed "cautious optimism" about finalizing the terms soon. A Lebanese official involved in the discussions indicated that the responsibility now lies with Israel, while Lebanon's government remains "realistic" about the possibility of a cease-fire failing. These officials spoke anonymously due to the sensitive nature of the negotiations.
Earlier in the week, Hochstein held discussions with Lebanese officials in Beirut, claiming progress had been made. Hezbollah's leader, Naim Qassem, stated that the group's response to the U.S. proposal indicated that a truce depended on the "seriousness" of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Despite ongoing negotiations, both Israel and Hezbollah have committed to continuing their military actions, leading to an escalation in violence.
Bachir Khodr, head of the Baalbek-Hermel governorate in eastern Lebanon, reported that Israeli strikes killed nearly 50 people in his province on Thursday, affecting more than a dozen towns and villages. The health ministry confirmed that at least 10 of the deceased were from the village of Flaoui, where children were among the casualties.
Hussein Awada, a driver who had evacuated from Dahiya weeks prior, returned on Friday to retrieve money from a friend. Unaware of the evacuation warning due to lack of cellphone data, he narrowly escaped before an Israeli strike leveled a nearby building. Amnesty International criticized the evacuation warnings as insufficient, noting they are only disseminated via social media.
Israel's intensified military campaign against Hezbollah began in September, following a year of rocket fire from the group into Israel in solidarity with Hamas in Gaza. The ongoing conflict has resulted in over 3,500 fatalities in Lebanon and displaced nearly a quarter of the population, marking the deadliest conflict in the country since the civil war ended in 1990.
Recent days have seen escalated fighting in southern Lebanon, with the Israeli military conducting deeper incursions into Lebanese territory. Hezbollah reported attacking Israeli troops near Khiam, a significant southern town where Israel has increased its military presence.
In Chamaa, another town experiencing Israeli incursions, the United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported that four Italian peacekeepers were injured when their base was attacked for the third time in a week. The base was struck by two rockets, likely launched by Hezbollah or affiliated groups.