Israel Launches Massive Airstrikes in Southern Beirut and Severs Lebanon-Syria Border

Israel carried out a series of intense airstrikes overnight, targeting the southern suburbs of Beirut and severing the critical Masnaa Border Crossing between Lebanon and Syria, marking a significant escalation in its yearlong conflict with Hezbollah. The strikes, which rocked Beirut and sent thick plumes of smoke into the night sky, came after Israel warned civilians to evacuate southern Lebanon, particularly areas outside the UN-declared buffer zone.

Ground Incursion and Escalating Conflict

These new airstrikes follow Israel’s ground incursion into Lebanon on Tuesday, where Israeli forces have been clashing with Hezbollah militants along the narrow strip bordering the two nations. Previous Israeli airstrikes killed several key Hezbollah leaders, including their longtime chief, Hassan Nasrallah, intensifying the conflict that has spanned more than a year.

Beirut’s southern suburbs, heavily hit in these overnight airstrikes, experienced over ten consecutive attacks, according to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency. Though the Israeli military has yet to comment on the intended targets or report casualties, the scale of destruction was felt kilometers away in the Lebanese capital.

Closure of Critical Border Crossing

The airstrike that cut off the Masnaa Border Crossing, one of the busiest links between Lebanon and Syria, added another layer of complexity to the humanitarian crisis. For the past two weeks, tens of thousands of people fleeing the conflict in Lebanon have crossed into Syria through this route. According to Lebanon’s General Security, more than 330,000 Lebanese and Syrian citizens have used this crossing over the past week alone.

Dama Post, a Syrian pro-government media outlet, reported that Israeli warplanes launched two missiles, damaging the road connecting the Masnaa crossing in Lebanon to the Jdeidet Yabous crossing point in Syria. This is the first time this major border crossing has been blocked since the onset of the conflict. However, other crossings between the two countries remain operational.

Hezbollah’s Involvement in the Conflict

The Israeli military has accused Hezbollah of attempting to transport military supplies through the now-closed border crossing. Hezbollah, a powerful militant group with strong ties to Iran, has played a key role in the ongoing conflict, regularly exchanging fire with Israeli forces across the southern Lebanese border. The group is also believed to receive arms and equipment from Iran via Syrian routes, strengthening its position in the conflict.

Broader Regional Violence

Meanwhile, daily clashes between Israel and Hezbollah have persisted since Hamas’ October 7, 2023, cross-border attack that killed more than 1,200 Israelis and saw 250 others taken hostage. Israel’s military response has expanded to include wide-ranging operations in both Gaza and Lebanon, with Hezbollah becoming a significant force on the Lebanese front.

In a related development, the Israeli military conducted a strike in Tulkarem, a militant stronghold in the West Bank. The Palestinian Health Ministry reported that 18 people were killed in the strike, which targeted a refugee camp. This operation was coordinated with Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security agency.

Humanitarian Toll

As violence spreads across the region, the humanitarian toll continues to grow. More than 41,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the conflict erupted, with local health officials reporting that over half of the victims were women and children. In Lebanon, the Health Ministry has reported nearly 2,000 deaths since late September, with most of the casualties occurring in the southern regions, where fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has been particularly fierce.

The latest wave of airstrikes and ground battles suggests no immediate end to the conflict, as the region braces for further escalation.