Israel has launched a third day of strikes in southern Lebanon following the death of a senior Hezbollah commander in an airstrike in Beirut. The strikes have caused casualties and displaced up to half a million people in Lebanon. The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has raised concerns of escalating violence in the Middle East.
The United Nations Security Council is set to meet to discuss the situation, with the UN Secretary-General urging for a diplomatic solution to prevent Lebanon from becoming another Gaza. The US President, Joe Biden, has called for calm, emphasizing the need for a diplomatic resolution to the crisis.
Lebanon’s foreign minister has criticized Biden’s response and stated that the US is the key to resolving the conflict in the Middle East. Lebanon’s prime minister hopes to meet with US officials in the coming days to seek assistance in ending the conflict.
The conflict has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of people in Lebanon, including civilians, and further airstrikes have been reported in southern Lebanon as well as in Syria. Israel has vowed to continue its offensive against Hezbollah while Hezbollah has retaliated by launching rockets at Israeli military bases.
The international community, including the US, Egypt, and Qatar, has been unsuccessful in negotiating a ceasefire in Gaza, where there has been ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. Iran’s President has called for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and an end to Israeli aggression in Lebanon to prevent further escalation.
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