Israeli missiles rain down on Lebanon, over 270 dead and a thousand wounded. The US sends troops

It’s at least 274 dead and 1,024 injured the toll of the Israeli bombings that hit the Bekaa region and southern Lebanon today. This was confirmed by the Lebanese Minister of Health, Celebrate Abiadas reported by L’Orient Le Jour. Among the victims are at least 21 minors, in what constitutes the bloodiest escalation of the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah since 2006. At the time, more than 1,100 Lebanese were killed in the attacks of the Jewish state, including approximately 250 Hezbollah militants, while 121 soldiers and 43 civilians died on the Israeli side, killed mostly by rocket attacks conducted by the “party of God”.

Netanyahu to Lebanese civilians: ‘Get out of trouble’

Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have therefore not been this high for at least 18 years, and they risk remaining so for a long time. The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu he in fact stated in a consultation on security and attacks in Lebanon: “Do not take your foot off the gas”. Not only that: in a public statement the leader of Tel Aviv addressed the Lebanese civilian population inviting them to seek safety: “Please get out of trouble immediately. “Once our operation is over, you will be able to return safely to your homes,” Netanyahu said in a video shortly after the Israeli military announced it had struck 800 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon.

Iran: “Israel wants to unleash a war in the entire region”

In a deteriorating picture, there are fears that the ongoing conflict in Gaza and Lebanon will “contaminate” other Middle Eastern countries. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has accused Israel of wanting to start a wider war across the region and of setting “traps” to drag Iran into it. Speaking at a media briefing, Pezeshkian said Tehran did not want the current war in Gaza and air strikes on the Israel-Lebanon border to spread, adding that while Israel insists it does not want a wider war, it is taking actions that prove otherwise. Pezeshkian cited the explosions of pagers, walkie-talkies and other electronic devices in Lebanon last week, which he blamed on Israel, as well as the killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, where he was taking office.

US sends more troops to Middle East

And still fearing an escalation, the United States is sending more troops to the Middle East. This was announced by Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder, who did not provide details on the number of additional troops or what their tasks would be. The United States already has 40,000 soldiers in the region. The US State Department has, meanwhile, urged US citizens to leave Lebanon in the face of the danger of a further escalation of the situation. “Due to the unpredictable nature of the ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel and the recent explosions throughout Lebanon, including Beirut, the US Embassy urges US citizens to leave Lebanon while trade options remain available,” the department warned yesterday.

Biden: “I’m working on a de-escalation”

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden, who is receiving the President of the United Arab Emirates at the White House today, for the first time in Washington in the history of relations between the two countries, announced: “I am working on a de-escalation in Lebanon”.

Farnesina to Italians in Lebanon: “Leave the Country”

The Farnesina’s Viaggiare Sicuri website also published a warning: “Considering the volatile situation of instability and the possibility that regional tensions may further worsen, we reiterate the invitation to our fellow citizens to postpone their trips to Lebanon. Our fellow citizens temporarily present in the country are recommended to depart on available commercial flights. Some flights arriving or departing from Beirut Airport may be subject to changes/cancellations and we recommend checking the status of flights with your airline. Any travel to southern Lebanon and the Beqaa Valley remains discouraged: our fellow citizens who are still in these areas are recommended to reconsider their stay”.