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Israel has escalated its military campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon, striking central Beirut near government headquarters and ordering mass evacuations of southern Lebanon up to 25 miles from the border. The attacks killed at least 12 people overnight according to Lebanon’s health ministry, with Israeli forces seizing positions inside Lebanese territory. This escalation follows coordinated rocket barrages by Hezbollah and Iranian missile strikes on central Israel.

The conflict represents a significant expansion from previous Israel-Hezbollah clashes, with Israeli officials warning Lebanon could face Gaza-level destruction. Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Shia militant group and political party, controls much of southern Lebanon and has been exchanging fire with Israel since October 2023. The group emerged from Israel’s 1982 invasion of Lebanon and has fought multiple wars with Israel, most recently in 2006. Iran’s direct involvement through missile strikes marks a dangerous regional escalation, as the Islamic Republic typically operates through proxies rather than direct confrontation with Israel.

Sources:

• Israel’s military campaign in Lebanon reaches devastating new phase | News | Al Jazeera
• Israel strikes heart of Beirut, signals long campaign | Reuters
• Israel strikes Beirut and orders south Lebanon evacuation as conflict mounts | Israel | The Guardian
• Israel pounds Beirut suburbs and south Lebanon after Hezbollah rocket barrage

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