Israeli raids continue on various areas in Lebanon, coinciding with a ground incursion into the south, amid reports of the use of guerrilla tactics, while diplomatic efforts face serious difficulties.
On Friday morning, Israeli warplanes launched a raid on the area between the towns of Kafra and Sarbin in southern Lebanon, in addition to raids on the towns of Baraashit and Srifa. A bombing also targeted a house in the same area near a center affiliated with the Islamic Health Authority, which led to the burning of an ambulance parked next to the house, but no casualties were reported.
Israeli Apache helicopters conducted sweeping operations with machine guns along the coast of the town of Bayyada, and fired missiles towards the area, according to what the National News Agency reported. At dawn today, aircraft launched raids on the towns of Bint Jbeil, Hanin, Kunine and Al-Tiri, while artillery bombarded the vicinity east of the town of Baraashit. The official agency reported that Israeli forces blew up the remaining homes in the town of Aita al-Shaab.
In parallel, the Israeli army issued an evacuation warning to residents of the southern suburbs of Beirut. Israeli army spokesman Avichai Adraee said that a warning had been issued to all residents in the area, as reported by the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper.
These developments come in the context of the ongoing escalation since March 2, as Israel launches air strikes on the southern suburbs and areas in the south, the Bekaa, and the north, in addition to a ground incursion, against the backdrop of confrontations with Hezbollah after the American and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28.
According to the Lebanese authorities, the death toll in Lebanon from March 2 until yesterday, Thursday, reached 1,345 dead and 4,040 wounded.
Politically, an official Lebanese source confirmed that US President Donald Trump’s extension of the war will have a direct impact on the Lebanese front, indicating that reliance on including Lebanon in any US-Iranian negotiations has faded, even if these negotiations are held. He pointed out that the continuation of the war raises fears of an unprecedented population displacement in large areas, in light of the faltering official communications to limit the repercussions.
Lebanese sources expressed their fear of facing an extremely dangerous security, political and economic situation, noting that external events do not indicate the inclusion of Lebanon on any international agenda at the current stage.
On the other hand, Israeli Channel 12 reported, citing army assessments, that there were indications of a decline in Hezbollah’s performance on the field and damage to morale within its ranks, with reports of a breakdown in communication between the leadership and its cadres in the south, some reserve members refusing to join the service, and a number of fighters moving towards the northern regions.
However, the newspaper “Haaretz” saw that the Israeli ground forces succeeded in southern Lebanon in only three things: bombing homes, evacuating the wounded, and public relations. It quoted an Israeli officer as questioning the killing of 700 Hezbollah fighters, estimating that the number was less than that, and noting that the party was adopting guerrilla warfare.
The officer added that the Israeli army prefers “dynamic control” rather than permanent occupation, contrary to what is announced about the occupation of even the Litani River.
