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Israel and Hezbollah Trade Fire as Diplomatic Efforts Intensify to Defuse Crisis
In a concerning escalation of regional hostilities, Israel and Hezbollah engaged in deadly exchanges of fire on Tuesday, following a devastating rocket attack on the Golan Heights that claimed the lives of 12 children over the weekend. The incident has sent shockwaves through the region, prompting urgent diplomatic efforts to avert a broader conflict.
The attack on Saturday targeted the Druze Arab town of Majdal Shams in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights. The victims, aged between 10 and 16, were caught in the crossfire of a conflict that threatens to engulf the entire region. While Israel and the United States have attributed the attack to Lebanon's Hezbollah, the Iran-backed group has strongly denied any involvement.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to Majdal Shams on Monday was met with a mix of grief and defiance. His pledge of a "severe response" has heightened fears that the ongoing Gaza conflict could escalate into a broader regional crisis, despite international calls for restraint.
The situation deteriorated further on Tuesday when Israeli medics reported the death of a 30-year-old civilian following a rocket attack on the northern kibbutz of HaGoshrim. This occurred in the wake of Israeli strikes on approximately 10 Hezbollah targets across seven different areas in southern Lebanon, resulting in the death of one Hezbollah fighter.
Hezbollah claimed responsibility for launching a barrage of Katyusha rockets at a military headquarters in the village of Beit Hillel. The group stated that this was in retaliation for an Israeli attack on the town of Jibchit, which reportedly caused significant civilian casualties and "major damage," according to Lebanon's official National News Agency.
The ongoing conflict has inflicted a heavy toll on both sides. In Lebanon, at least 531 people have died, including 105 civilians, based on AFP reports. On the Israeli side, 22 soldiers and 25 civilians have perished, including casualties in the Golan Heights.
The international community has intensified efforts to de-escalate the crisis. A French diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that Paris, along with partners such as the United States, is working diligently to urge all parties to exercise restraint and avoid further escalation.
The impact of the conflict is being felt across various sectors. Multiple international airlines have suspended flights to Beirut amid Israel's promises of retaliation. However, Mohammed al-Hout, chairman of Lebanon's Middle East Airlines, insisted that Beirut airport "is not exposed to any threat" and should be considered a neutral zone.
The Lebanese public, meanwhile, is grappling with a pervasive sense of anxiety. Cosette Beshara, a 40-year-old mother of two, described living in "a state of constant anxiety," always contemplating escape routes for her children in case war breaks out.
As the situation in the region remains volatile, the Gaza Strip continues to bear the brunt of the conflict. The territory's civil defense agency reported that approximately 300 people had been killed in the southern city of Khan Yunis during an Israeli operation that began on July 22. Mahmud Bassal, a spokesman for the agency, stated that many of the recovered bodies were in a state of decomposition.
The Israeli military, however, declared the completion of its operation in the Khan Yunis area, claiming to have eliminated "over 150 terrorists" during the course of the operation.
As diplomatic efforts intensify to prevent further escalation, the international community watches with bated breath, hoping for a peaceful resolution to a conflict that threatens to engulf the entire region in devastation.