Lebanon under fire: International pressure to prevent air incursion
International diplomatic pressure is mounting on Israel to dissuade it from resuming its violent raids on the Lebanese capital Beirut following a series of deadly strikes. A Western diplomatic source said European and Arab countries, including Egypt and Gulf states, were exerting intense pressure to prevent renewed bombardment following what was described as "Black Wednesday". The moves come despite a supposed regional ceasefire and the Israeli army issuing evacuation warnings for overcrowded neighborhoods with vital facilities and the airport road.
The health sector is at risk
The World Health Organization (WHO) has called on Israel to reverse its evacuation warnings, warning of catastrophic repercussions for hospitals. Its director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, confirmed that the targeted areas include major hospitals such as "Rafik Hariri University" and "Al-Zahra", where about 450 patients are receiving treatment, including critically ill patients. On the other hand, the director of the Rafik Hariri Hospital, Mohammed Zaatari, said that he had received assurances that the hospital was currently out of the target's range, and Transport Minister Fayez Rassmani confirmed that he had received diplomatic guarantees that the airport campus and its route would be neutralized as long as their use is limited to civilian purposes.
Worsening food security crisis
The World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that Lebanon is rapidly slipping into a severe food crisis as a result of supply chain disruptions. Markets in the south have collapsed by 80 percent, while Beirut's markets are under enormous pressure, said Alison Auman, the program's director, adding that many traders' stocks of basic commodities may not be enough for more than one week as the number of displaced people increases.
The tragedy of childhood under the rubble
UNICEF has revealed alarming figures for the victims of the latest escalation, with 33 children killed and 153 wounded during Thursday's raids alone. The organization pointed out that the total number of child victims (dead and wounded) has reached about 600 children since the renewed clashes on March 2. The organization spoke of distressing reports of children being pulled from the rubble and others missing or separated from their families, describing the effects as "devastating and inhumane".
Continued field confrontations
On the ground, the National News Agency reported that Israeli strikes on villages in southern Lebanon continued, while Hezbollah announced the implementation of rocket attacks towards northern Israel and the targeting of advancing forces in the border areas, which foreshadows the continuation of military escalation despite international diplomatic attempts to contain the situation.