The arrival of US envoy Amos Hochstein in Beirut on Tuesday brought renewed focus to ceasefire negotiations, but violence escalated dramatically in several regions of Lebanon.
Beirut
At dawn on Tuesday, the Israeli Air Force launched an unannounced attack on the Chiah area in the southern suburb of Beirut, deviating from its usual pattern of prior warnings. A drone strike leveled a four-story building in Masbagha street, injuring 11 people, according to preliminary reports.
Civil Defense announced the completion of rescue operations in Zokak el-Blat, following an Israeli strike on a Hezbollah operations center on Monday evening. The final report confirmed seven fatalities.
Southern Lebanon
Israeli forces intensified airstrikes on southern Lebanon, targeting multiple areas, including Bazouriyeh, Yohmor al-Shaqif, and Tyre. Explosions were reported overnight and early Tuesday morning, with sounds of the bombardment echoing as far as Nabatiyeh.
Flare bombs were launched over Deir Mimas, which had already endured a series of air raids. The towns of Maroub and Der Qanun Ras al-Ain in Tyre, along with the villages of Tyre and Bint Jbeil, faced continuous strikes throughout the night.
Bekaa Region
In Western Bekaa, Israeli airstrikes targeted the towns of Libbaya and Zilaya early Tuesday morning, escalating the violence in the region.
Rising Death Toll of Health Workers
The United Nations issued a statement confirming the deaths of more than 210 health workers in Lebanon since October 2023.
Hezbollah
Hezbollah claimed responsibility for several attacks on Israeli military positions and settlements.
The group reported launching a drone offensive against military targets in Tel Aviv. It claimed to have shot down an Israeli Hermes 450 drone over Taybe in southern Lebanon using a surface-to-air missile.
Hezbollah also announced its fifth wave of rocket attacks, targeting Israeli military forces near Khiam in southern Lebanon, as well as the Israeli towns of Kiryat Shmona and Margaliot.
Israel
The Israeli army has reportedly uncovered large stockpiles of Russian-made weapons in Hezbollah warehouses in southern Lebanon, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.
“Some of the weapons, which include modern Kornet anti-tank missiles manufactured as recently as 2020, were sent to southern Lebanon in recent years from Russian stockpiles in neighboring Syria,” the report stated. It added, “Russia has long provided arms to Syria’s military, as well as controlled its warehouses in the country.”
Israel had been unable to confirm the flow of Russian-made weapons to Hezbollah until its forces gained ground in southern Lebanon.
https://thisisbeirut.com.lb/articles/1301597/israel-launches-surprise-attack-on-chiah-at-dawn