Israel Has Bombed Lebanon Over 6,000 Times Since October
The Israeli army has conducted 6,142 attacks on Lebanese soil, resulting in at least 543 deaths between October 7 last year and June 21 this year, according to an analysis by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED).
Aita al-Shaab, a Shia-majority village near the Israeli border that saw 85 homes destroyed during the 2006 Israel–Hezbollah war, has been targeted in 300 of these attacks.
(Related: Israel OKs plans for ALL-OUT WAR in Lebanon to wipe out Hezbollah.)
Other frequently targeted towns include Ras al-Naqoura (246 attacks), which houses the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) headquarters; Hula (219 attacks), where dozens of unarmed men were killed by the Israeli army in 1948; Kfarchouba (218 attacks), the second largest village in southern Lebanon; and Kfar Kila (209 attacks).
While most attacks have been concentrated in southern villages, Israeli drones and jets have also targeted the cities of Tyre and Saida, as well as various locations in the Bekaa Valley in northern Lebanon.
Western media reports indicate that the near-daily airstrikes, artillery shelling and the use of incendiary chemical white phosphorus by the Israeli army have rendered much of the five-kilometer (3.1-mile) zone north of the border “uninhabitable,” displacing over 95,000 people in southern Lebanon.
Residents have faced significant destruction of infrastructure, including homes, schools and hospitals, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
Hezbollah, other armed groups fight back
ACLED reports that Hezbollah and other armed groups near the border are responsible for 1,258 attacks on Israeli soil.
However, figures released by the resistance on June 13 indicate a total of 2,125 attacks since October 8. Many of these attacks have targeted Kiryat Shmona (132 attacks), Margaliyot (91 attacks) and Metula (72 attacks).
Other targets include military bases, barracks and airfields. According to Tel Aviv, these attacks have resulted in the deaths of at least 21 Israelis.
Hezbollah reported that its military actions have displaced over 200,000 Israelis, forcing the evacuation of over 40 settlements and striking up to 35 kilometers into the occupied territories.
In recent weeks, Israel has escalated threats to expand the war against Lebanon to regain control of its northern settlements, causing significant concern among international observers and humanitarian organizations.
The conflict has strained Israel’s relationship with its U.S. backers, who are advocating for a diplomatic resolution.
“We’re urgently seeking a diplomatic agreement that restores lasting calm to Israel’s northern border and enables civilians to return safely to their homes on both sides of the Israel–Lebanon border,” U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated on June 25 following a meeting with his Israeli counterpart in Washington.
The U.S. has also been working with other international actors to broker a ceasefire and provide humanitarian aid to affected areas in both countries.
Less than two weeks ago, Israel said it was prepared for an “all-out war” in Lebanon with approved plans to target Hezbollah, officials announced following the release of threatening drone footage by Hezbollah.
The footage showed civilian and military areas of Haifa, prompting a strong response from Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz, who warned that Hezbollah would be destroyed and Lebanon severely hit in a war.
The Israeli military confirmed that plans for a ground assault across the northern border have been approved by Ori Gordin, head of the Northern Command. This comes amid ongoing border skirmishes since the October 7 attacks on Israel and the subsequent war on Gaza, which has killed at least 37,000 Palestinians.
The conflict has resulted in over 400 deaths and 90,000 displacements in Lebanon, with 25 deaths and 60,000 displacements in Israel. The U.S. is working to prevent further escalation, with White House envoy Amos Hochstein emphasizing President Joe Biden’s aim to avoid a greater war.
