Beirut, Sept 25: An Israeli airstrike in Beirut on Tuesday killed senior Hezbollah commander Ibrahim Qubaisi, escalating fears of a full-scale war in the region.
Hezbollah confirmed his death early Wednesday, stating that Qubaisi was in charge of the group’s missile and rocket operations. Since the onset of the Israeli offensive on Monday, the death toll in Lebanon has reached 569, including 50 children, with 1,835 injured, according to Health Minister Firass Abiad.
This new wave of violence has intensified concerns that the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza could destabilize the Middle East further. In response, the British government has advised its citizens to leave Lebanon and is deploying 700 troops to Cyprus for evacuation assistance. The U.N. Security Council is set to convene on Wednesday to address the escalating crisis.
U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned that “Lebanon is at the brink,” highlighting the global implications and stating that the situation cannot afford to see Lebanon become another Gaza. At the U.N. General Assembly, U.S. President Joe Biden urged for calm, arguing that a full-scale war is not in anyone’s interest and that diplomatic solutions are still possible.
However, Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib criticized Biden’s comments as inadequate, emphasizing that the U.S. is the only nation that can genuinely influence the situation in the region. He reiterated the importance of U.S. involvement during an event hosted by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in New York City.
In Beirut, thousands of displaced individuals from southern Lebanon are sheltering in schools and other facilities. Volunteers at the Technical Institute of Bir Hassan have been providing water, medicine, and essential supplies for those fleeing violence. Many families are facing dire conditions, expressing exhaustion and stress as the crisis continues.
Early Wednesday, Israeli forces struck the coastal town of Jiyyeh, located 75 km (46 miles) from the border, further escalating tensions.
