Israel ramps up Lebanon operations, strikes 70+ Hezbollah targets
Tel Aviv, May 26
Israel Defence Forces launched fresh waves of airstrikes across Lebanon, hitting more than 70 Hezbollah infrastructure sites, using around 85 munitions.
IDF, in a post on X, said that in the area of Tyre, 10 command centres, weapons storage facilities and additional infrastructure sites used by Hezbollah were struck.
"Additionally, Hezbollah terrorists operating on motorcycles were eliminated," the IDF added.
Additionally, the Israel Air Force attacked the Hezbollah organisation's infrastructure in the Beqaa Valley and several additional areas in Lebanon.
Al Jazeera, citing Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA), reported that Israeli air strikes have killed seven people and left several others wounded.
According to the agency, an air attack on Machgharah killed five people, injured multiple others, and forced rescue teams to evacuate survivors from beneath the rubble of targeted homes.
Another strike on Kouthariyeh el-Siyad killed two people and wounded two others, Al Jazeera reported.
Additionally, Israel's Home Front Command announced new restrictions in northern Israel's border communities after the attacks.
"Effective Tuesday, outdoor gatherings will now be limited to 50 people, and indoor gatherings up to 200 people. Both are reduced from the previous limits of 200 outdoors and 600 indoors," Israel Home Front Command said.
Local authorities in northern Israel have announced that schools will be closed tomorrow until further notice, The Times of Israel has reported.
The strikes come right after Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu instructed the military to "press the pedal even harder" against Hezbollah, after a US official signalled that Washington would approve a larger operation against the Iran-backed terror group amid a surge in drone attacks, Times of Israel reported.
"We are at war with Hezbollah. Just in recent weeks, our brave fighters have eliminated more than 600 terrorists," Netanyahu says in a video statement. "But we are not taking our foot off the gas. On the contrary, I have instructed them to press the pedal even harder."
— ANI
Reader Comments
Netanyahu saying "press the pedal even harder" — that's exactly how India should have dealt with cross-border threats from day one. Pakistan has been using terrorist proxies like LeT and JeM for years, and we've been too soft. Israel shows that when you're dealing with determined enemies, half-measures don't work. Of course, the humanitarian cost is tragic, but when the other side uses human shields and operates from civilian areas, what choice is there? Jai Hind. 🇮🇳
It's interesting seeing this conflict from an Indian perspective. You guys have a unique understanding given your own experiences. I'm from the US and honestly, I'm tired of endless wars in the Middle East. This escalation feels like it's going to spiral out of control. 600 terrorists killed in recent weeks but at what cost? The civilian death toll is climbing and nobody talks about a peace plan.
As someone from Bangalore watching this unfold, I feel for both sides. My heart goes out to the families in Lebanon who lost loved ones in these airstrikes. But also, Israel has every right to defend itself after those drone attacks. What worries me more is how this could affect oil prices and global economy — we're already struggling with inflation here. Modi ji should push for de-escalation through diplomatic channels. War benefits nobody except arms dealers. 💔
Respectful criticism: while I understand Israel's security concerns, this level of bombing seems disproportionate. 70+ targets, 85 munitions — that's massive. The IDF says they eliminated terrorists on motorcycles, but what about the five people killed in Machgharah? Were all of them Hezbollah? India preaches restraint and dialogue, and I wish Israel would consider that path more seriously. Violence only breeds more violence. Look at what happened after 26/11 — we retaliated smartly via surgical strikes, not carpet bombing. 🇮🇳
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