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Israeli Airstrike Kills Top Hezbollah Commanders, Heightening Middle East Tensions

Israeli Airstrike Kills Top Hezbollah Commanders, Heightening Middle East Tensions

      Image credit : CNN

Hezbollah is grappling with the loss of two high-ranking commanders and several others following an Israeli airstrike on Beirut, escalating concerns of a broader conflict in the Middle East. The attack, which left 37 dead, has sparked renewed fears of an all-out war, especially as Iran, a key Hezbollah backer, warned that the region is "on the brink of war."

The Israeli strike comes after months of cross-border violence and in tandem with ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza. Tensions spiked when several devices, such as pagers and walkie-talkies linked to Hezbollah, were detonated across Lebanon. As a result, the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has intensified, with more fire being exchanged on Saturday. Israel also targeted a school in Gaza, where local officials reported that 22 civilians, including children, were killed.

Among the victims of the Beirut airstrike were two senior Hezbollah figures: Ibrahim Akil, a founding member of Hezbollah's elite Radwan Force, and Ahmed Wahbi, head of the group’s central training unit. Lebanese authorities reported that the total death toll included 37 individuals, with over 60 others injured. Hezbollah confirmed the deaths of 19 of its fighters, bringing the group's casualties since the start of the recent conflict to nearly 500.

Israel stated that it had confirmed the deaths of 16 Hezbollah fighters in the latest airstrike. Akil, who had been a wanted figure in the U.S. for his involvement in past attacks, including the 1983 bombing of the U.S. embassy in Beirut, had a $7 million bounty on his head.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah retaliated by launching rockets and artillery shells into northern Israel, while Israeli forces targeted Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon. The exchange comes amid a broader shift in Israel's focus toward the north, even as its operations in Gaza continue.

At a military parade in Tehran, Iran showcased its growing military capabilities, including a new self-detonating drone, as Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei condemned Israel’s actions. A senior official in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned that the conflict could spread beyond Lebanon, possibly reaching Iraq, Syria, or even Iran itself.

The United Nations has raised alarms about the deteriorating situation, with warnings that the violence could spiral into a wider conflict. Rosemary DiCarlo, the U.N.'s political affairs chief, called for urgent diplomacy, stating that further escalation could lead to a catastrophe far worse than what has already been seen.

As Israeli forces continue their operations, the death toll in Gaza also climbs. The Israeli military reported targeting a Hamas-controlled facility in Gaza City, killing 22 civilians, many of them women and children, who had sought shelter in the building.

 

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