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.
Ship traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait fell to its lowest level in months on Sunday after Yemen's Houthi movement attacked Saudi oil facilities...
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has appealed directly to Russian President Vladimir Putin to help resolve a trade dispute that has disrupted A...
The Russia-Ukraine war is increasingly reshaping the Caspian region. From threats to energy infrastructure to renewed diplomatic efforts, countries ac...
Iran will halt its own attacks as long as the United States maintains its pause on strikes, but Tehran remains sceptical of U.S. intentions, a senior Iranian source told on Sunday.
Ship traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait fell to its lowest level in months on Sunday after Yemen's Houthi movement attacked Saudi oil facilities along the Red Sea coast, while vessel movements through the Strait of Hormuz also remained subdued despite a pause in U.S.-Iran tensions.
A New York school district has put plans to introduce a humanoid robot into classrooms on hold after fierce criticism from teachers, Indigenous community members and state education officials over the use of artificial intelligence in schools.
Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev called on Saturday for Russia and Ukraine to freeze the conflict and return to peace talks, saying a negotiated settlement remained possible despite the entrenched positions of both sides.
A known Islamist suspected of driving a minivan into a crowd near a major LGBTQ Pride gathering in Berlin was shot dead during a police operation at an allotment garden complex, broadcaster RBB reported on Sunday.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has appealed directly to Russian President Vladimir Putin to help resolve a trade dispute that has disrupted Armenian exports to Russia, adding to tensions in the increasingly strained relationship between the two countries.
The Russia-Ukraine war is increasingly reshaping the Caspian region. From threats to energy infrastructure to renewed diplomatic efforts, countries across the region are adapting to the wider consequences of a conflict that continues to disrupt trade, transport and security.
The chief executive of a Turkish defence company has said the United States has approved the export of GE F110 engines for Türkiye’s KAAN fighter jet, although Washington has yet to confirm the move.
Azerbaijan’s Media Development Agency has expressed concern over Iran’s decision to include several foreign media organisations, including Azerbaijan’s state television channel AzTV, on a list of "hostile media organisations".
Kazakhstan has resumed oil exports through the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) after drone attacks disrupted operations at its Black Sea terminal, restoring the route that carries most of the country’s crude exports.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment