Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon and Syria have escalated, with at least 31 people killed in Lebanon over the past 24 hours. The attacks are part of Israel’s ongoing military campaign against Hezbollah. Israel has also struck multiple bridges in Syria near the Lebanon border, claiming that the attacks were aimed at disrupting Hezbollah's arms smuggling routes, killing two civilians were in the strike.
In Lebanon, the Israeli military has issued threats to residents in southern Beirut, warning that several buildings in the area are set to be attacked. Israeli spokesperson Avichay Adraee posted a map on X, identifying targets in the southern suburbs of Borj El Brajneh and Tahouitet al-Ghadir. "For your safety and the safety of your family members, you must evacuate these buildings and those adjacent to them immediately," he urged.
Despite the continued airstrikes, there is cautious hope that the conflict may de-escalate, as it follows the pattern of previous Israeli-Lebanese clashes, with violence intensifying before a ceasefire. Local sources and diplomats are reporting positive signs that all parties are eager to bring the conflict to an end.
The European Union's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, however has called for global pressure on Israel to approve a ceasefire with Hezbollah. Borrell stressed that the current proposal offers Israel the security guarantees it needs, urging a stop to the bloodshed. "Every night, Beirut is under severe bombing," Borrell said. "Let’s put pressure on Israel to approve the proposal today… Let’s start thinking on peace."
Political analyst Abed Abou Shhadeh, based in Jaffa, predicts the Israeli cabinet will approve the ceasefire with little opposition. "There is an interest in pulling back militarily to focus on Gaza," he said, noting that the regime's primary goal in Gaza is the establishment of new settlements.
Since the beginning of the genocidal Israeli war in Gaza, at least 3,768 people have been killed and 15,699 injured in Lebanon due to Israeli strikes.