Airstrikes escalate in Lebanon as conflict with Hezbollah intensifies

Israel has continued its series of airstrikes against the terrorist organization Hezbollah in Lebanon. Security sources in the region report that the latest strikes targeted areas near the Lebanese capital, Beirut. Susanne Dahlgren, director of the Finland Middle East Institute, described the intense bombing, stating, “I woke up around 12:30 AM to a tremendous blast. I later learned that a storage building was destroyed about 20 kilometers from Beirut.”

Dahlgren noted that while some strikes have hit Beirut itself, most have focused on the eastern Bekaa Valley and southern Lebanon. “These strikes have instilled fear among the population. Half a million people have been forced to flee,” she explained.

The influx of displaced people has become an internal issue for Lebanon, with refugees being accommodated in schools, while many seek shelter with relatives elsewhere. “There are many who have nowhere to go. The highways in the south are completely congested with people waiting to reach safety,” Dahlgren said.

Israeli airstrikes on Monday were reported to be the largest and deadliest since the conflict with Hezbollah that escalated in 2006. Dahlgren emphasized that local residents do not favor Hezbollah, but their sentiment towards Israel is even more negative. “This has caused immense fear and sadness for those who have been victims of the bombings,” she stated.

The situation in hospitals has become critical, as they are already filled to capacity following last week’s explosions, resulting in dozens of deaths and thousands injured. “And now we anticipate more casualties this week,” Dahlgren added.

In southern Lebanon, 200 Finnish peacekeepers remain deployed, with Finnish ambassador Anne Meskanen assuring that they are safe. Earlier assessments in August suggested that only a full-scale ground invasion could prompt discussions about evacuating the peacekeepers.