Key facts
- Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam called for international aid amid a humanitarian crisis in southern Lebanon.
- Salam stated that supporting displaced families and restoring humanitarian needs cannot be postponed.
- Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has displaced over 1.2 million Lebanese.
- Lebanese health authorities reported 1,039 people killed and 2,876 injured.
- Israeli forces destroyed five bridges over the Litani River in southern Lebanon.
- Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah vowed to continue fighting against Israeli occupation.
Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has called for urgent international support to address a deepening humanitarian crisis in the country's south, exacerbated by ongoing fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. Speaking at the UN General Assembly, Salam stressed that aid for displaced families and the restoration of basic needs are immediate priorities.
The conflict has intensified, with reports of explosions in both Lebanese and Israeli civilian areas. Israeli forces have expanded operations in southern Lebanon, destroying five bridges over the Litani River, which the military stated were used by Hezbollah for transporting terrorists and weapons. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz indicated that residents displaced from south of the Litani River will not return until security is guaranteed for northern Israel.
Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah responded by stating that Israel's occupation of southern Lebanon is an existential threat and vowed that the group would continue its fight to prevent Israel from establishing a buffer zone. Political analyst Lorenzo Trombetta suggested that Israeli strikes on infrastructure aim to make southern Lebanon difficult to sustain civilian life, contributing to the isolation of the battlefield as the Lebanese army has retreated. The fighting has displaced over 1.2 million Lebanese, with many seeking refuge in shelters or with family and friends, facing dire conditions such as food shortages and inadequate sanitation. Lebanese health authorities have reported 1,039 deaths and 2,876 injuries.