An Israeli strike on Friday near Lebanon's Masnaa border crossing with Syria has shut down a critical road used by hundreds of thousands of people fleeing recent Israeli bombardments, according to Lebanon Transport Minister Ali Hamieh.
Hamieh reported that the strike occurred within Lebanese territory near the border crossing, resulting in a four-meter-wide crater. The incident has significantly impacted the movement of refugees seeking safety in Syria.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) spokesperson accused Hezbollah on Thursday of utilizing the crossing to transport military equipment into Lebanon. \"The IDF will not allow the smuggling of these weapons and will not hesitate to act if forced to do so, as it has done throughout this war,\" stated IDF spokesman Avichay Adraee on social media platform X.
Lebanese government statistics reveal that over 300,000 people, predominantly Syrians, have crossed from Lebanon into Syria in the last ten days to escape escalating Israeli airstrikes. In response to the intensifying conflict, the Israeli military has ordered immediate evacuation of more than 20 southern towns in Lebanon.
The ongoing fighting between Hezbollah and Israel has heightened fears of broader regional involvement, potentially drawing in the United States and Iran into the conflict. Nations worldwide are preparing contingency plans to evacuate their citizens from Lebanon amidst the dramatic escalation between Israel and the Lebanese armed movement Hezbollah.
China has urged the United Nations Security Council to take urgent action to de-escalate the Lebanese-Israeli situation. Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the UN, emphasized the council's responsibility for maintaining international peace and security, warning against passive inaction and further military adventurism.
U.S. President Joe Biden has expressed skepticism about the likelihood of an \"all-out war\" in the Middle East but stressed the need for increased efforts to prevent such an outcome. As Israel continues its military operations against Hezbollah, Biden indicated that the U.S. is consulting with Israel on possible responses to Tehran's largest-ever assault on its adversaries, including potential strikes on Iran's oil facilities. However, Biden stated he would not support any Israeli strikes on Iran's nuclear sites.
The conflict has also seen targeted air raids, including strikes on Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine in Beirut's southern suburb of Dahiye. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed consequences for Iran following missile attacks, with Washington pledging to support Israel in holding Iran accountable. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has declared that any military attack or crossing of red lines by Israel will be met with decisive response from Iranian armed forces.
As Israel continues its battle against Hamas in Gaza, the deployment of troops into southern Lebanon after intense airstrikes underscores the escalating nature of the conflict, which now risks involving multiple global powers.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
