## Israel Targets Southern Lebanon With Dozens of Airstrikes, Raising Fears of Widening Conflict

**BEIRUT** – Israel launched dozens of airstrikes on southern Lebanon overnight, targeting infrastructure and suspected Hezbollah positions, in a significant escalation of the ongoing conflict with Hamas. The strikes followed a wave of rocket fire from Lebanon, which Israel attributed to Hezbollah.

While Hezbollah has not officially claimed responsibility for the rocket attacks, the group’s Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah warned Israel that “any aggression against Lebanon will be met with a firm response.” The strikes come amidst a tense ceasefire brokered by Egypt, which saw a significant reduction in fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

Lebanese officials reported that the airstrikes targeted areas near the Israeli border, including a building in the Tyre region, which reportedly houses a Hezbollah military complex. There were no immediate reports of casualties, but local residents described a heavy bombardment that shook the region.

The escalation in Lebanon raises serious concerns about the potential for a wider regional conflict. International observers have repeatedly warned of the dangers of the fighting spreading beyond Gaza, particularly given the presence of Hezbollah, a powerful Iranian-backed militia, along the Israeli border.

The United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Joanna Wronecka, called for “restraint and de-escalation” and urged all parties to avoid further escalation. The US has also expressed concern over the escalating violence and called for a return to the ceasefire agreement.

The situation in Lebanon is closely monitored by international powers, who fear a wider conflict could destabilize the region and lead to further bloodshed. The coming days will be crucial to determine whether the conflict will be contained within Gaza or widen to include Lebanon and potentially other regional actors.