Israel Declares Emergency as Tensions Escalate with Hezbollah, Rockets Fly Across Border
BEIJING, August 25, 2024 – A new wave of violence erupted between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah on Tuesday, with both sides launching air strikes against each other. In response tothe escalating conflict, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant declared a state of emergency for the next 48 hours.
The exchange of fire began early Tuesdaymorning, with Israel targeting southern Lebanon, according to reports from Lebanon’s Al-Jadeed television station. The strikes, which lasted approximately 20 minutes, were met with a retaliatory barrage of rockets and drones launched byHezbollah towards northern Israel, including the region of Western Galilee.
Israel’s military claims it initiated the strikes after detecting Hezbollah’s preparations for a large-scale attack on Israeli territory. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) stated thatthey acted preemptively to destroy Hezbollah’s rocket launchers.
Hezbollah, however, issued a statement claiming the attacks were a preliminary response to the death of their senior military commander, Fouad Shukr. The group asserted that their drones successfully reached their targets, Israeli military camps and bases, and that theyare now in a state of high alert ready to respond to any further aggression.
The state of emergency declared by Israel grants the IDF the authority to issue directives to civilians, simplifying the implementation of measures aimed at protecting the population, such as limiting gatherings and imposing restrictions on movement in certain areas.
Meanwhile,Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Gallant convened a security cabinet meeting to discuss the escalating situation. The meeting took place in an underground command center at the IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv.
The current escalation comes amid ongoing negotiations for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, where Hamas and Israel have been engaged in a fierceconflict for weeks. A delegation from Hamas visited Cairo on Monday to listen to a ceasefire proposal presented by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States. However, the talks reportedly failed to achieve any progress.
A Palestinian official revealed that Israel insisted on retaining control of eight military posts along the Philadelphia Corridor in the GazaStrip. Egyptian sources indicated that several issues remain unresolved, including the security of key areas and the return of Palestinians displaced from northern Gaza.
Following the failed negotiations, the Hamas delegation traveled to Doha, Qatar.
Adding to the regional tensions, US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Charles Q. Brown Jr., embarked on a Middle East tour on Monday, with stops planned in Jordan, Egypt, and Israel. Brown stated that he will meet with military leaders in these countries to discuss ways to prevent a wider conflict and de-escalate the situation.
Iran, which has been vocal in its threats of retaliation against Israel followingthe death of Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, has indicated that its response will depend on the outcome of the Gaza ceasefire talks.
In the meantime, the IDF launched airstrikes against southern Gaza on Monday, resulting in the deaths of at least 71 Palestinians.
The latest developments have raisedserious concerns about a potential escalation of the conflict, with the potential for spillover into the wider region. The international community is urging all parties involved to exercise restraint and engage in dialogue to find a peaceful solution.
【来源】http://www.chinanews.com/gj/2024/08-25/10274419.shtml
Views: 1