Israeli escalation in Lebanon. 8 people killed and displacement continues

The US capital is preparing to host the third round of negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, at a time when the Lebanese field is witnessing the most violent military escalation due to the continuation of Israeli aggressions against Lebanon, especially in the southern regions of Lebanon.

According to Lebanese media sources, the Israeli occupation forces intensified their airstrikes and systematic bombing operations in various areas of southern Lebanon, resulting in new casualties and exacerbating the displacement crisis in many towns.

The field precedes the negotiating table

On the eve of the Lebanese delegation, headed by Ambassador Simon Karam, to meet with the Israeli delegation led by Ron Dermer, in Washington,  the Israeli Air Force launched a series of raids on Wednesday targeting the vital "coastal highway" in the areas of Barja, Jiyeh and Saadiyat in southern Lebanon.

The Lebanese Ministry of Health confirmed that these attacks led  to the death of 8 people, including two children, while the raids directly affected civilian vehicles, which led to the cutting off of supply routes and movement.

Targeting medical staff

The Lebanese Ministry of Health announced a shocking toll on attacks on the health sector, as 108 paramedics have been killed since last March as a result of 163 deliberate attacks.

On the ground, an Israeli raid on Nabatieh today led to the death of two medics while trying to rescue an injured person, and the military institution also mourned a military man killed in the raids in the town of Jibshit.

Official figures indicate that the escalation since March has left more than 2,846 people dead and about 1.6 million people displaced, equivalent to a fifth of Lebanon's population.

"Scorched Earth" Policy and Urgent Warnings

  The district of Tyre and the surrounding towns also witnessed a large displacement of citizens following the Israeli army's immediate evacuation warnings for 6 southern towns, including (Ma'shuq, Yanuh, Burj al-Shamali, Halusiyya al-Fuqa, Daba'al, and Abbasiya).

In parallel with the raids, the occupation forces carried out large-scale bombings of residential houses and vital stations, most notably the blowing up of the water pumping station in Deir Mimas, and booby-trapping entire neighborhoods in the town of Khiam and Al-Bayada, in a move that observers interpreted as aimed at imposing a new reality on the ground before the negotiation round.

The Response of the Resistance and Political Positioning

On the other hand, Hezbollah continued its military operations, targeting Israeli gatherings and tanks with its pouncement drones  in the vicinity of the towns of Houla, Rashaf and Taybeh.

Politically, the party, through its secretary-general, Sheikh Naim Qassem, reiterated its rejection of direct negotiations with Israel, considering it a "free gain for Israel," and stressing that the party will not return to the pre-March balance of power , while the Lebanese delegation in Washington insists on the demand for a comprehensive ceasefire as a prerequisite for any agreement.

Prospects for the Washington Tour

The upcoming round of negotiations in Washington comes  amid an atmosphere of pessimism in light of the military escalation north of the Litani River and the crossing of heavy border vehicles.

As Beirut pushes for a humanitarian truce that alleviates the suffering of the displaced, Israel continues its intensified military aggression, putting negotiators to a real test of the extent to which diplomacy can rein in the war machine on the ground.