Israeli military officials issued an apology on Monday following a strike that resulted in the deaths of three Lebanese soldiers in southern Lebanon. The military clarified that its forces were not targeting the Lebanese military but believed they were hitting a vehicle associated with the Hezbollah militant group.
In parallel, Israeli airstrikes targeted multiple branches of a financial institution run by Hezbollah, which Israel claims is involved in funding attacks, although many ordinary citizens use the institution to hold their savings.
Hezbollah recently announced it is entering a new phase in its confrontations with Israeli forces, particularly in light of the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar during battles in Gaza. Sinwar played a significant role in orchestrating the attacks on southern Israel that have fueled the current escalation of conflict in the region.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his commitment to eradicating Hamas and recovering hostages held by the group. In contrast, Hamas has stated that it will only release the captives in exchange for a lasting ceasefire, a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and the release of Palestinian prisoners.
The conflict, which intensified on October 7, 2023, began when Hamas militants breached Israel’s security fence, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 individuals, predominantly civilians, and the abduction of around 250 people. Israel’s military operations in Gaza have reportedly led to over 42,000 Palestinian deaths, according to local health authorities, who do not differentiate between combatants and civilians. The ongoing war has devastated large parts of Gaza and displaced nearly 90% of its 2.3 million residents.