One-sixth of its population has become a refugee due to the ongoing Israeli invasion, which is expected to escalate in the coming days. Over a million people are internally displaced, seeking temporary refuge and if they are forced to leave the country they have only two options: devastated Syria or the Mediterranean.
Amid reports that the group’s fighters are putting up strong resistance in villages in southern Lebanon while simultaneously hitting the north with rockets, Israel’s chief of staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir yesterday inspected units being reinforced along the border and announced the “deepening of operations until the achievement of all objectives” meaning the eradication of Hezbollah, along with the destruction of Iran’s military capabilities in the other, larger theater of operations.
According to a statement from the staff, Zamir approved plans for “sustained, limited and targeted operations”.
How far will the invasion of Lebanon go?
Israel’s staff ordered the evacuation of all of southern Lebanon up to the natural border of the Zahrani River, which empties into the Mediterranean 9 km south of Sidon, about 60 km from the capital Beirut. This means that the initial targeting that set the limit of the invasion at the Litani river, has moved 10 km further north, now including more than 50 villages and towns, and of course the city of Tyre.
Also, Israel again called on the population to leave the southern districts of Beirut, which are a stronghold of the Hezbollah organization. At the same time, Israeli special forces have been trying for days to flank and open a way for the encirclement of Hezbollah, through the border with Syria and the Bekaa Valley, for now without spectacular results.
Mertz sees a wave of refugees – The appeal to Israel
“We are watching with great concern the Israeli ground attack. This attack will worsen the humanitarian crisis and the dramatic exodus of refugees,” said German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, echoing the concern and anxiety of European partners.
“We make an urgent appeal to our Israeli friends: Do not take this path, it would be wrong,” Mertz added, while French President Emmanuel Macron reiterated in equally dramatic tones that he is ready to host in Paris directly.
Netanyahu is not backing down
But Israel does not seem ready to back down. Responding to European fears of Lebanon’s collapse, Israeli President Isaac Herzog told AFP last night that “Europe should support every effort to destroy Hezbollah now.”
They should understand that if you want to get somewhere, there are times when you have to win the war, Herzog said while describing the French proposal as very positive.
