War on Lebanon: 558 killed, 1835 injured by Israel. It’s just the beginning…

Netanyahu goes to war.
Photo: Reuters

Israeli air raids – the heaviest since 2006 – intensified on Monday morning, covering the entire southern part of Lebanon, as well as some Beirut suburbs. The area bordering Israel and the city of Tyre, the largest in the south of the country, suffered the most.

The Israeli aggression on Lebanon already has killed 558 citizens, including 50 children, and wounded 1,835 others, Lebanese Health Minister Firass Abiad said during a press conference on Tuesday, ‘Al Mayadeen’ informs.

According to Abiad, "the Israeli enemy's brutality led to the martyrdom of several members of medical and rescue teams."

Al Mayadeen's correspondent had reported over 1,000 Israeli airstrikes targeting the Lebanese South since "Israel" launched its extensive aggression on Monday.

The villages and towns of Qana, Ain Baal, al-Aqbiya, al-Sultaniyya, Sidiqin, Jabal al-Batm, Dabial, Markaba, Arabsalim, Aytit, Maaraka, and Nabatieh al-Fawqa were targeted, as well as the bridge between Jezzine and Marjayoun, in southernmost Lebanon.

In West Bekaa, 24 people were killed, while five are missing so far. Al Mayadeen's correspondent also reported 113 martyrs and 500 injuries in northern Bekaa as a result of the Israeli raids over the past 24 hours, where the towns of Shaath, Douris, and al-Bazaliyeh were targeted.

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri stressed that "national unity and solidarity was a political moral duty at this stage of Lebanese history. Our people in the South, Bekaa, and Dahiya are a responsibility to all the Lebanese people, and their victory precedes any other consideration."

Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid called on the "international community to take a stand to stop the aggressive actions against Lebanon, which could lead to dangerous consequences."

Arab foreign ministers also condemned the "escalating Israeli aggression against Lebanon, particularly since Monday morning."

Meanwhile, the Kremlin viewed that "the Israeli attacks on Lebanon are extremely dangerous and could destabilize the region," while the Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed Beijing's support for "Lebanon in maintaining its sovereignty and security," condemning the "Israeli violations represented by airstrikes."

The Israeli war on Lebanon's hidden goal: Gaza's full erasure, stresses Middle East press.

While the world's attention shifts to Lebanon, Israel may pursue another darker goal – completing its ethnic cleansing of Gaza

On Thursday, Israel continued to escalate its aggression in what was the heaviest bombardment of southern Lebanon since the start of the war. A massive air strike on a densely populated residential neighbourhood in Beirut killed at least 14 people, including children, and senior Hezbollah commander Ibrahim Aqil.

The threat of war, however, will have implications far beyond Lebanon, as it will turn the world's attention away from Gaza and allow Israel to complete its mass killing and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians.

In any potential war against Lebanon, Israel would employ many of the tactics it has used in Gaza – the targeting of civilian infrastructure, bombing residential areas, and starving the population.

This war would undoubtedly draw widespread international attention - as it should - due to the high number of civilian casualties that would occur. However, while the world focuses on Lebanon, Israel may pursue another darker goal: completing its ethnic cleansing of Gaza.

Should a war break out in Lebanon, whatever is left of attention towards Gaza would be directed to Lebanon. This distraction will provide Israel with a perfect cover to continue its campaign of killing, injuring, starving, and displacing Palestinians in Gaza.

It has been evident since the early days of the war, and through leaked documents, that Israel aims to get rid of Palestinians in Gaza forever – either by forcing them into Egypt or killing them.

The ethnic cleansing of Gaza has so far officially killed over 41,000 Palestinians, according to Palestinian health officials. But a study published by The Lancet in July shows Gaza's true death toll could reach at least 186,000. After nearly one year of Israel's war on Gaza, Palestinians are fighting to survive the looming outcome of Israel's goal – complete erasure.

read more in our Telegram-channel https://t.me/The_International_Affairs