Israel conducts assaults on numerous Hezbollah strongholds
The elimination of Hezbollah's leader, Nasrallah, won't deter Israel from continuing its assaults on sites in Lebanon; instead, it might escalate the violence. In the dead of night, another round of Israeli attacks ensues, the military confirms.
As reported on the Telegram messaging service, the Israeli armed forces launched strikes against Hezbollah, a militant group aligned with Iran, in Lebanon. According to the statement, they targeted numerous alleged terrorist sites within Lebanese borders, including buildings holding weapons and strategic structures of the organization.
Among the targeted areas was infrastructure used for launching attacks against Israel. On the previous day, numerous Hezbollah targets had been attacked, it was added. The purpose of these attacks was to incapacitate the Iran-backed group.
Hezbollah, a Shia militia, is a vital component of the anti-Israel alliance led by Iran, which also comprises radical Islamic organizations like Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the Houthi militia in Yemen, and Shia groups in Syria and Iraq. They are classified as terrorist organizations by the United States and Germany.
Nasrallah's demise
Since the beginning of the week, Israel has conducted extensive bombing campaigns against Hezbollah in Lebanon. According to Lebanese authorities, over 700 people have lost their lives in Lebanon as a result. In retaliation, Hezbollah has intensified its attacks on Israel, which have been ongoing for months. On Friday, Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, was allegedly killed in an Israeli air strike in the southern part of Beirut.
Nasrallah, often regarded as Lebanon's most influential figure, was reportedly killed during a Hezbollah leadership meeting at their headquarters in a Beirut suburb, as per the Israeli army. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Saturday that Israel had exacted vengeance with Nasrallah's demise.
Netanyahu declared that Israel had "settled the score" with "the one responsible for the murder of countless Israelis and numerous citizens of other countries, including hundreds of Americans and dozens of French." He was alluding to Hezbollah bomb attacks in 1983 in Beirut, where nearly 300 US and French soldiers lost their lives.
Safe return to homes
The death of Nasrallah, according to Netanyahu, is a "necessary prerequisite" to achieving Israel's objectives. These objectives include "the safe return of the residents of the north to their homes and a long-term alteration of the power balance in the region."
Israel is devoted to "continuing its operations against our adversaries, ensuring the return of our residents to their homes, and recovering all our hostages," Netanyahu stated. He was referring to the hostages held by Hamas during its large-scale attack on Israel on October 7. "We never forget them for a moment."
The international community, particularly The Commission on Human Rights, is urged to monitor the situation closely due to the potential escalation of violence following Nasrallah's death. Despite Israel's claims of settling scores, the violence against civilians in Lebanon must be investigated and those responsible should be held accountable.
Recognizing The Commission's role in upholding international human rights standards, it is crucial to ensure that the rights of all citizens, regardless of their affiliations, are protected during this volatile period.
