Israel expands army deployment area in Lebanon

The Israeli army on October 8 began ground operations in southwestern Lebanon, expanding its attacks to a new area.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that it was putting more pressure on the Iran-backed Hezbollah group by carrying out “targeted, localized and limited operations” in southwestern Lebanon, Reuters reported. The IDF said its goal was to clear border areas where Hezbollah fighters were hiding, with no plans to advance deeper into Lebanon.

The IDF struck the southern suburbs of Lebanon’s capital Beirut overnight on October 7, claiming to have killed a senior Hezbollah member responsible for budget and logistics. If confirmed, the death of Suhail Hussein Husseini would be the latest in a series of Israeli assassinations targeting leaders and commanders of Hezbollah and its ally Hamas.

Meanwhile, in Gaza, according to CNN, a year after the war in Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue fighting to achieve his goals, including the overthrow of Hamas and the elimination of any future threats to Israel. In the past two days, the IDF has issued new evacuation orders in both northern and southern Gaza, where tens of thousands of Palestinians are sheltering. A new ground operation has been launched by the IDF in Jabalya, northern Gaza, after signs of Hamas' re-establishment. Earlier this year, Israel claimed to have defeated Hamas in northern Gaza.

Israelis wait wearily for their loved ones kidnapped by Hamas on October 7, 2023. Photo: Getty Image

Amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East, Ms. Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCR), highlighted the serious violations of international humanitarian law, especially in the protection of civilians. UNHCR listed acts of violence such as attacks on schools, humanitarian organizations, hostage-taking, forced displacement and the discovery of mass graves. Hospitals and ambulances have also been targeted, while humanitarian aid operations have been repeatedly blocked, adding to the suffering of the people in the Gaza Strip.

Palestinians in the Gaza Strip live within range of bombs and bullets. Photo: Reuters

In the past year, the conflict has killed nearly 42,000 people and displaced 2.3 million people in Gaza. Many areas have been virtually leveled. In Lebanon, Israeli airstrikes have displaced 1.2 million people. About 2,000 Lebanese have died, most in the past few weeks.

KHANH MINH

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/israel-mo-rong-khu-vuc-trien-khai-luc-quan-o-lebanon-post762668.html