Key facts
- Israeli attacks struck southern Lebanon and multiple areas of Gaza on Monday.
- Lebanese towns of al-Mansouri and Tallousah were hit by Israeli strikes.
- At least three Palestinians were reported killed in separate Israeli drone strikes in Gaza.
- Israeli attacks have targeted areas in southern Lebanon and the southern suburbs of Beirut.
- Over one million Lebanese have been displaced due to Israeli military operations.
Israeli forces conducted attacks in southern Lebanon and multiple areas of Gaza on Monday, according to Lebanese and Palestinian media reports. In Lebanon, strikes hit the towns of al-Mansouri and Tallousah, despite a recent framework agreement aimed at reinforcing a ceasefire. In Gaza, at least three Palestinians were reported killed in separate Israeli drone strikes. Wafa news agency reported one person killed near the Asqoula junction in Gaza City and another near the Abu Sharikh roundabout in Jabalia refugee camp, with additional casualties reported. Earlier attacks in Beit Lahiya and Gaza City also resulted in casualties.
Analysts suggest that while both Israel and Lebanon desire the success of the recent agreement, Israel's actions in Lebanon pose a significant obstacle. The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah began a day after Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023. Hezbollah has fired rockets at Israel in solidarity with Palestinians, and Yemen's Houthi group has attacked ships in the Red Sea. Israel's military has intensified operations in Lebanon, creating a new front in the regional conflict. Since October 7, 2023, Israeli attacks in Lebanon have resulted in at least 5,282 deaths, including women, children, and health workers, and wounded 2,141, according to Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health. More than one million Lebanese have been displaced, with Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz stating that the return of people to the country’s south is contingent on guaranteeing the safety of Israelis. Data from ACLED indicates at least 394 Israeli attacks on Lebanon, primarily concentrated in the south and southern suburbs of Beirut, but also extending to the Bekaa Valley and Baalbek. Israeli warplanes have targeted several parts of Beirut, including Dahiyeh, Haret Hreik, the Bashoura neighbourhood, and Ramlet al-Baida.
Israel and Hezbollah signed a ceasefire deal on November 26, 2024, but Israel has not withdrawn its troops and has continued attacks in violation of the agreement. The Israeli army expanded forced displacement orders for residents of southern Lebanon, covering over 1,470 square kilometers, or about 14 percent of the country’s territory. Nearly 18 percent of Lebanon's population has been displaced in recent weeks.