First-ever International Flights to Locked Down Country Amid Expected Attack
Tensions Escalate Between Israel and Hezbollah
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has reached a new level of intensity, with retaliatory strikes and escalating violence threatening to plunge the region into chaos. The situation began to deteriorate when the Israeli army targeted a car and motorcycle on the border, resulting in the deaths of two Hezbollah members near the town of Mays al-Jabal in southern Lebanon.
The conflict further intensified over the weekend when a rocket struck a football field in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. This incident, along with the deaths of 12 civilians in Majdal Shams, prompted Israel to vow revenge and declare that Hezbollah would pay the price. Hezbollah, Lebanon’s largest military force, has suffered significant losses in the past 10 months, losing 386 members including senior commanders to Israeli attacks.
The prospect of a full-scale war between Hezbollah, with tens of thousands of fighters and a vast arsenal of missiles, and the Israeli army has raised concerns about the potential for widespread devastation in the Middle East.
In response to the escalating tensions, several airlines have suspended flights to Lebanon due to security concerns. Lufthansa and Air France have announced that they will not operate flights to Beirut until August 5.
Al Jazeera correspondent Zeyna Khodr, reporting from Beirut, described the situation as extraordinary, noting that the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has led to flight cancellations for the first time in 10 months of fighting. With fears mounting and countries such as the United States, Australia, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Belgium advising their citizens to leave Lebanon, the situation remains highly volatile.
As international efforts are underway to prevent a full-blown regional conflict, Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdullah Bouhabib has reassured the public that measures are being taken to contain Israel’s expected retaliation. However, the impending response from Hezbollah will play a crucial role in determining the trajectory of the conflict.
With warships reportedly en route to the Eastern Mediterranean for evacuation and thousands of marines mobilizing in the region, the situation remains fluid and fraught with uncertainty. As world leaders continue to call for restraint and de-escalation, the future of the conflict hangs in the balance.
