As global attention centres on the conflict between Iran and the U.S., violence in Lebanon is intensifying, with Israeli strikes hitting residential areas, causing mounting civilian casualties and deepening an already severe humanitarian crisis.
Explosions tore through parts of Beirut, sending thick columns of smoke into the sky. Residents said the attacks came without the usual warnings to evacuate, heightening fears among civilians.
Lebanon’s presidency accused Israel of bearing “full responsibility” for the escalation, describing the latest wave of strikes as a “massacre”.
The Lebanese health ministry reported that dozens had been killed and hundreds wounded in the latest attacks.
While diplomatic efforts have focused on a ceasefire between Washington and Tehran, Israel has continued large-scale military operations in Lebanon, striking multiple targets, including in densely populated areas.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said Israel had deliberately separated its war with Iran from its campaign in Lebanon, aiming to remove threats to northern Israel. Israeli officials maintain that the ceasefire does not apply to Lebanon.
The situation highlights how Lebanon has effectively become a parallel front in a broader regional conflict, even as international attention remains fixed elsewhere.
The humanitarian impact has been severe. Since early March, more than 1,500 people have been killed in Lebanon, including civilians, while over one million people have been displaced, according to officials and international reports.
That equates to roughly one in five people being forced from their homes, placing Lebanon among the most acute displacement crises globally. Many strikes have hit densely populated civilian areas, raising concerns among humanitarian organisations about the protection of non-combatants.
The United Nations has warned of a rapidly deteriorating situation on the ground. UN agencies say hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced since the escalation began, including large numbers of children.
UNICEF estimates that hundreds of children have been killed or injured, with many more forced from their homes. Aid agencies have raised alarm over worsening conditions, as families crowd into shelters or flee with little access to basic necessities.
The UN has launched a major emergency funding appeal for Lebanon, warning that humanitarian resources are under severe strain. Many displaced families are sheltering in overcrowded centres or informal conditions, with some forced to sleep in cars or on roadsides.
The crisis is compounding pressure on a country already hosting one of the world’s highest numbers of refugees per capita, stretching public services and infrastructure to the limit.
Lebanon was already facing a prolonged economic collapse before the latest escalation, marked by widespread poverty, currency depreciation and shortages of essential goods.
Renewed strikes risk pushing the country deeper into crisis, compounding displacement and infrastructure damage.
Despite a ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, no such pause appears to apply to Lebanon.
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Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 22nd of July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 23rd of July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
The United States has bombed Iran for an 11th consecutive night as the Pentagon says the war’s cost reach $37.5 billion. President Donald Trump threatens a heavy strike on the suspected Pickaxe Mountain nuclear site. Tehran warns that any attack could trigger a wider regional escalation.
U.S. strikes on Iran entered a 12th consecutive night, while Yemen's Houthis said they attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, urging President Donald Trump to warn Tehran it would be held responsible for any future Houthi attacks.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier have discussed regional developments, transport connectivity, energy cooperation and the Azerbaijan-Armenia peace process during talks in Berlin.
Months of progress against hunger in Gaza are at risk of being reversed as aid funding runs out and relief operations are scaled back, with a new assessment warning that two-thirds of the population could face acute hunger by the end of the year.
Gaza's US$71.4 billion reconstruction effort will fail unless Palestinians lead the process, according to a new report by Oxfam and two Palestinian organisations, which argues previous rebuilding efforts were repeatedly undermined by conflict, restrictions and funding shortfalls.
Türkiye and Syria are aiming to increase annual bilateral trade to $10 billion as Ankara strengthens economic ties with Damascus under Syria's post-Assad government.
Kazakhstan is set to invest $22.2 million in the development of a new communications satellite, KazSat-3R, as the Central Asian nation prepares to replace its ageing KazSat-3 spacecraft before it reaches the end of its operational life in 2029.
Iran has urged European countries to take a more diplomatic approach to its conflict with the U.S. and Israel, saying Europe should uphold international law rather than support what Tehran describes as aggression.
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