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Heavy Fighting Between Israel and Hezbollah Escalates Amid Calls for Ceasefire

  • 25 Nov 2024 10:17 AM
  • Israel Hezbollah conflict, Israel airstrike, Hezbollah rockets, South Beirut, ceasefire

On Sunday, fierce fighting continued between Israel and Hezbollah, with Israel striking Hezbollah’s stronghold in southern Beirut. In retaliation, Hezbollah launched one of its largest attacks in months, firing around 250 rockets into Israel, wounding at least seven people. Israeli air defenses intercepted some of the rockets, but others caused damage to houses, including in the Tel Aviv area.

Hezbollah also claimed responsibility for launching a swarm of attack drones targeting Israel’s Ashdod naval base and a military base in Tel Aviv, marking a significant escalation in their tactics. The Israeli military confirmed that Hezbollah fired 250 projectiles, one of the highest daily figures during this conflict.

In Lebanon, Israel conducted airstrikes on Hezbollah strongholds in southern Beirut, causing more deaths after recent waves of Israeli bombings. The Lebanese Health Ministry reported at least 84 deaths in previous Israeli airstrikes, bringing the total number of casualties in Lebanon to over 3,750 since October 2023. On the Israeli side, 82 soldiers and 47 civilians have been killed.

Amid the violence, European Union’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called for an immediate ceasefire, while US envoy Amos Hochstein suggested that a truce deal could be imminent. The UN’s Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 Hezbollah-Israel war, remains central to calls for a resolution, calling for disarmament and a peacekeeping presence along the southern Lebanese border.

The violence shows no signs of abating, with both sides maintaining their offensive and diplomatic talks intensifying in the hope of securing peace.

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