Israel unleashes new strikes on Lebanon as Hezbollah vows revenge for device blasts
NBCSep 24
Israel Launches Massive Barrage of Strikes Across Lebanon
Above: Smoke billows from a site targeted by Israeli shelling in the southern Lebanese village of Burj el-Shmali on Sept. 23, 2024. Image copyright: Mahmoud Zayyat/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Facts
After issuing warnings to residents of southern and eastern Lebanon to evacuate their homes, Israel on Monday launched a barrage of airstrikes across the country. Lebanon's health ministry said that the strikes killed 356 people and injured over 1.2K.
Israel also reportedly targeted Hezbollah's commander for South Lebanon, Ali Karaki, in Beirut's southern suburbs. Karaki's status is still unclear, but he is the third top Hezbollah official to be targeted in Lebanon's capital. Hezbollah-affiliated media said the strike hit an underground shelter.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Though the situation in the region continues to escalate, the US has stood firm in its role as a mediator. Israel has every right to respond to Hezbollah's daily terror attacks along its northern border. However, it's in no one's interest for tensions to explode into a wider regional war. The US will continue to work toward regional stability.
Pro-Israel narrative
Israel has been patient regarding the situation in the north, but after a year of daily terror attacks on Israeli civilians, it has been forced to deal with Hezbollah more aggressively. Israel gave civilians time to evacuate and acted in a precise manner, hitting rockets and missiles that were being stored in civilian homes. Israel sincerely wants peace, but it can't allow Hezbollah and other Iran-backed terror groups to threaten its society in such an existential way.
Pro-Palestine narrative
It's clear that Israel has the same goals in South Lebanon that it has had in Gaza — the forced displacement of the civilian population. Indeed, Israel seeks to spread terror among the Lebanese people to punish them for standing with Gaza. Israel has provided no evidence that civilian homes are being used to store munitions, and even if that were true, it wouldn't justify displacing whole regions of Lebanon.
Narrative D
This is a clear example of terrorism and a disregard for human life by Israel. Hezbollah opened a support front with Israel to stand in solidarity with Gaza, which has faced a genocidal Israeli campaign. Its attacks will end when Israel withdraws from Gaza. Meanwhile, Hezbollah is ready and able to defend Lebanon from Israeli aggression.