On Sunday, Israel launched a series of new strikes on Lebanon, vowing to intensify its campaign against Hezbollah following the assassination of the group’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, in Beirut.
Lebanese residents braced for further attacks as the Israeli military issued fresh evacuation orders, including to civilians in southern Beirut. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that despite Nasrallah’s death, Israel’s mission was far from over, pledging to continue its offensive until the balance of power in the Middle East had shifted and around 60,000 northern Israeli residents displaced by a year of cross-border hostilities could safely return home.
Israel’s military continued targeting Hezbollah leaders after Nasrallah’s death in a significant strike on Friday in Beirut’s Dahiyeh district, a move Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant described as “one of the most important assassinations in the history of Israel.” On Sunday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the killing of Nabil Qaouk, a senior Hezbollah figure believed to be a potential successor to Nasrallah. Qaouk, involved in recent attacks on Israel, was killed on Saturday, though the location was not disclosed.
The intense Israeli bombing campaign has claimed over 1,000 lives across Lebanon, according to the Lebanese health ministry, making it one of the deadliest periods since the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war. On Sunday, four paramedics were killed, and more homes were destroyed in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley and southern regions. Lebanese state media reported that six bodies were recovered from the rubble in the village of al-Ain.
The week-long air strikes have displaced hundreds of thousands of Lebanese civilians, many seeking refuge in the capital, where they sleep in schools, on beaches, or in the streets.
On Saturday, Israel also reported killing Hassan Khalil Yassin, a key figure in Hezbollah’s intelligence division responsible for coordinating attacks on Israel. Following Nasrallah’s death, Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati declared three days of national mourning, with all public and private institutions to cease work on the day of Nasrallah’s funeral.
US President Joe Biden reaffirmed America’s support for Israel’s right to defend itself against groups like Hezbollah and other Iranian-backed factions but emphasized the need for diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation.
Israel has signaled the possibility of a ground invasion into southern Lebanon, where Hezbollah maintains an extensive network of weapons and bases. On Saturday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant hinted at an expansion of military operations in the north but did not specify what those actions might involve.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah and other Iran-aligned groups continued to launch rockets into Israel, triggering sirens across northern and central parts of the country. Some projectiles landed in open areas, including a rocket that caused a fire near an Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank. The IDF also reported intercepting a drone from the Red Sea on Saturday, with the Iraqi-based Islamic Resistance claiming responsibility for the attempted attack.