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Israel has escalated its air assault on Lebanon, targeting over 3,600 Hezbollah-linked sites in preparation for a ground offensive, as per statements from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Emily Tripp, head of Airwars, a British conflict monitoring organization, described the intensity of the air raids as unprecedented in the last two decades, with the exception of operations in Gaza.

The aerial bombardment has reduced entire residential blocks in south Beirut to rubble and inflicted heavy losses on Hezbollah's leadership, including the deaths of its leader Hasan Nasrallah and political deputy Nabil Kaouk. The Lebanese government reports that around 1,400 people have lost their lives and 900,000 have been displaced since Israel ramped up its operations.

The clash between Israel and Hezbollah began on October 8, following Hezbollah's rocket attacks into Israel, which occurred a day after a breach of Gaza's border wall by Hamas militants. This initial encounter resulted in significant Israeli casualties, with 1,200 people killed and over 250 taken hostage. In response, Israel initiated an extensive military campaign that has led to over 40,000 Palestinian deaths in Gaza.

Israel has launched approximately 80% of its strikes from within its territory, with the bombardments becoming increasingly deadly. Since September 20, the majority of the 1,800 deaths in Lebanon this past year have been reported, highlighting the growing intensity of the attacks. Tragically, the United Nations estimates that the recent two-day period saw the death of fifty children under Israeli bombardment, double the casualty rate of the 2006 Lebanon war.

Hezbollah has retaliated by firing roughly 1,750 rockets into Israel since October 7, resulting in at least 30 Israeli deaths. Most of these rockets have been intercepted by Israel’s air defense systems, including a missile aimed at Mossad's headquarters that was thwarted on Wednesday.

A particularly deadly day was September 23, when Israeli airstrikes claimed 558 lives across Lebanon, marking the deadliest single day since Lebanon's 15-year civil war. On that day, the frequency of strikes surpassed one per minute. Tripp noted that Israel's method of conducting warfare is far more aggressive compared to its allies, with Israel reporting strikes on 1,600 targets on September 23 alone.

Villages along Lebanon's southern border have borne the brunt of the attacks, with satellite imagery revealing over 500 damaged buildings between September 12 and 24. This intensive bombing campaign began shortly after Israeli operations on September 17 and 18, which caused the deaths of dozens and injured thousands by detonating pagers and two-way radios targeting Hezbollah members.

IDF Chief Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi has stated that military operations will persist until Hezbollah has been expelled from Lebanon's southern regions, ensuring the safe return of approximately 60,000 Israelis affected by the ongoing conflict. As Israel amassed tanks and troops along its northern border, likely in preparation for targeted ground raids to dismantle Hezbollah strongholds, airstrikes continued in other parts of Lebanon, including the densely populated Cola neighborhood in southwest Beirut.

"The strikes will not cease; our operations will continue relentlessly," Halevi affirmed to an IDF battalion stationed near Israel's northern border.

This ongoing conflict has triggered a significant humanitarian crisis, particularly within Gaza, where tens of thousands have died, and many have been plunged into dire conditions. Although under pressure from Western allies to allow more humanitarian aid, Israel maintains stringent control over aid into Gaza. The war, stemming from the deeply rooted and complex history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, highlights the enduring mistrust that has dominated the region since the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948.