Escalation in Lebanon: Government Condemns Hezbollah, Mandates Disarmament Amidst Israeli Retaliation
A recent escalation of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel has resulted in significant casualties and displacement in Lebanon, prompting an unprecedented condemnation from the Lebanese government. The government has mandated the disarmament of Hezbollah’s military wing and instructed security forces to prevent further attacks.
The violence began with Hezbollah launching rocket and drone attacks into northern Israel, which the group stated was in retaliation for the reported killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and in defense of Lebanon. Israel responded with extensive airstrikes across Lebanon, including Beirut’s southern suburbs, targeting Hezbollah facilities and officials.
Recent Hostilities Flare Up
On Monday, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for rocket and drone attacks on an Israeli military missile defense facility near Haifa in northern Israel. The group stated these actions were in retaliation for the reported killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Saturday, in defense of Lebanon, and in response to what it described as repeated Israeli aggressions and a violation of the November 2024 ceasefire agreement.
A senior Hezbollah official stated that the group's patience had ended after a year of Israeli strikes on Lebanon and declared readiness for "an open war" if Israeli aggression continued.
In response to the Hezbollah attacks, Israel launched a series of airstrikes across Lebanon. These strikes targeted Hezbollah facilities in Beirut's southern suburbs (including the Dahieh district), southern Lebanon, and the Bekaa Valley. The Israeli military reported intercepting Hezbollah missiles and stated its operations were aimed at eliminating the threat posed by Hezbollah. Among those reported killed in the Israeli strikes was Hussein Makled, described by Israel as the head of Hezbollah's intelligence headquarters.
Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, head of Israel's military, held Hezbollah responsible for the escalation.
Brigadier General Effie Defrin, an Israeli military spokesman, warned that Hezbollah would "pay a very heavy price" and did not rule out a ground invasion.
On Tuesday, Israel deployed additional troops into southern Lebanon, establishing new positions and issuing evacuation warnings for residents in multiple villages. The UN peacekeeping force (UNIFIL) observed Israeli troops making cross-border movements.
Casualties and Displacement Reach Tens of Thousands
The Israeli airstrikes resulted in varying reported casualty figures from Lebanese sources. Lebanon's Health Ministry initially reported 52 fatalities and over 154 injuries since Saturday, later revising the death toll to 40, which included seven children, a Palestinian militant, and a Hezbollah intelligence official, with 246 wounded. Other reports cited at least 31 fatalities and more than 30 deaths with 149 injured. Among the deceased and wounded were Hezbollah fighters and Iran's ambassador to Beirut.
The conflict led to the displacement of tens of thousands of people across Lebanon. The Lebanese Ministry of Social Affairs reported at least 29,000 people displaced to emergency shelters by Monday evening, with the U.N. refugee agency noting 30,000 displaced individuals in collective shelters. Israel issued evacuation orders for residents in dozens of Lebanese villages and towns. In parallel, the UNHCR reported a significant increase in Syrian refugees crossing back into Syria from Lebanon, with 10,629 individuals entering Syria on Monday, compared to a daily average of 3,900-4,400 since February.
Lebanese Government Issues Unprecedented Condemnation
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam declared Hezbollah's military and security activities unlawful and banned, asserting that the group's role should be restricted to the political sphere. He stated a rejection of military or security operations launched from Lebanese territory outside the framework of legitimate institutions and called upon security forces to prevent any attacks originating from Lebanese territory.
Prime Minister Salam characterized Hezbollah's attack as "an irresponsible and suspicious act" that jeopardizes Lebanon's security and provides Israel with justifications for aggression, pledging to apprehend perpetrators.
The Lebanese cabinet further instructed the judiciary to apprehend those responsible for firing rockets at Israel and directed the Lebanese army to prevent further rocket launches from Lebanese territory. This governmental response marked an unprecedented step, as the Lebanese government had reportedly avoided direct confrontation with Hezbollah for the preceding 18 months. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned both Hezbollah's attacks and the Israeli counter-strikes. President Aoun also informed international ambassadors that Hezbollah had been launching rockets from areas north of the Litani River, outside the zone where Lebanese troops had previously asserted full control.
Hezbollah: A Profile and Regional Role
Hezbollah is a Lebanese Shiite Muslim militant group that also operates a political party. Designated as a terrorist organization by several international entities, including the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, Australia, and Israel, the group maintains allegiance to Iran's supreme leader and advocates for the destruction of the Israeli state. Hezbollah receives significant funding, training, and weapons from Iran, estimated by the US State Department to be between $700 million and $1 billion annually.
Naim Qassem became Hezbollah's secretary-general in October 2024, succeeding Hassan Nasrallah, who was assassinated by Israel in 2024. Israel's Defence Minister has declared Qassem a "target for elimination."
Hezbollah's actions have generated discontent within Lebanon, with some residents expressing concerns that the group prioritizes Iran's interests over those of Lebanon. The group operates independently from the Lebanese government. Its military capacity was reportedly weakened by a 2024 conflict in which Israel eliminated several of its leaders, and by the overthrow of the Syrian regime in late 2024, which served as a crucial conduit for weapons from Iran.
Escalation Background and Disarmament Efforts
The recent escalation follows a period of conflict that intensified after Hezbollah initiated firing into Israel a day after the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on southern Israel. A full-scale war erupted in September 2024, leading to an Israeli ground invasion of Lebanon. Israeli forces largely withdrew after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in November 2024 but maintained occupation of five border points and continued near-daily strikes, mainly in southern Lebanon. Lebanon's Health Ministry reported 397 fatalities from Israeli strikes in Lebanon between the ceasefire and the latest attacks.
Under pressure from the United States and Israel, Lebanese authorities had previously agreed to disarm Hezbollah. However, Hezbollah dismissed this plan as a "US-Israeli ploy" and refused to surrender its weapons north of the Litani River, stating the November 2024 ceasefire applied to disarmament exclusively south of the waterway. The Lebanese government announced in January that it had completed the first phase of a five-stage plan to dismantle Hezbollah's arsenals in the area between the Litani River and the southern border with Israel, estimating at least four months for the second phase (between the Litani and the Awali rivers).
The escalation of military activity is expected to deepen Lebanon's ongoing economic and political crisis.
International Advisory
The US Embassy in Beirut advised American citizens against traveling to Lebanon and urged those already there to depart immediately due to a "volatile and unpredictable" security situation.