Israel launches new strikes at Lebanon
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Nearly 700,000 people have been displaced in Lebanon after Israel’s bombing campaign against Hezbollah, the United Nations has said.
As Israeli strikes rained down, the number of people registered as displaced rose by 100,000 on Monday and Tuesday, according to figures released by the government.
The Lebanese parliament has extended its term by two years due to the U.S.-Israel war with Iran, which has pushed the region into an escalating conflict, and Israel stepped up its attacks on Lebanon.
Escalating hostilities have forced nearly 700,000 people to flee their homes in Lebanon over the past week, a U.N. agency said on Monday, as the war between Israel and the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah entered a second week.
As Hezbollah enters a new round of fighting with Israel just 15 months after the last Israel-Hezbollah war ended with a November 2024 U.S.-brokered ceasefire, the Iran-backed militant group and political party is facing increasing grassroots discontent within its base and problems with the Lebanese authorities.
In a remarkable statement Monday afternoon, Lebanon called for direct talks with Israel on “permanent arrangements for security and stability on our borders,” while accusing the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah of betraying the country.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Monday accused Hezbollah of working to "collapse" the state and expressed Beirut's readiness for "direct negotiations" with Israel, drawing the backing of his Syrian counterpart for his goal of disarming the Iran-backed group.
The previous war had been initiated by Hezbollah in solidarity with the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023. This time, many Lebanese were less willing to accept Hezbollah’s decision to engage Israel.
On Wednesday, Pope Leo XIV noted the funeral for Father Pierre El Raii, the Maronite priest who was killed on Monday in southern Lebanon.
Iran launched a new wave of attacks Thursday at Israel, American bases and countries around the region, calling for “Trump's blood,” while Israel said it hit multiple targets in Iran.