In maps: Escalating Israel-Lebanon war

Year-long low intensity military hostilities between Israel and Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah following the outbreak of the Gaza war appear to have blown into a full-scale conflict as Israeli forces continued to pound targets in southern parts of Lebanon.

The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) said it hit around 300 sites linked to Hezbollah on Monday alone, killing 100 and injuring 400 others, according to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency.

Notably, nearly 600 Indian Army soldiers are stationed along the Israel-Lebanon border under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) mission. Their presence in the volatile region is focused on maintaining peace and preventing escalations. India is keeping a close watch on the evolving situation.

CONFLICT WIDENS

The attacks started with carefully orchestrated explosions in low-tech electronic communication devices, which killed a total of 37 people and injured nearly 3000 others last week.

Explosions in pager devices, popular in the early 20s, took place a day after Israel updated its war to rehabilitate its citizens in the northern parts bordering Lebanon. Around 6000 Israelis have been displaced due to low-intensity rocket attacks since October 8 when Hezbollah launched its attacks in support of Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The war in Gaza was triggered by a gruesome attack by Hamas militants that saw more than 1100 Israelis dead and dozens taken captive.

Since the pager and walkie-talkie explosions, Israel has killed at least 45 people in an attack in the suburbs of capital Beirut and destroyed at least 1000 rockets and 100 launchers.

Monday’s Israeli attacks mark the most intense Israeli bombardment since in almost a year of conflict across Lebanon’s south. The two sides exchanged fire as world leaders called for restraint and dialogue on Sunday. Many of Hezbollah’s rockets succeeded to evade the Israeli air defence system and landed deep in Israel, causing fire.

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said strikes would continue until it was safe for evacuated people in the north to return – setting the stage for a long conflict as Hezbollah has vowed to fight on until a ceasefire in the parallel Gaza war.

State media reported a huge outflux of Lebanese citizens from southern parts of the country, with schools and official institutions being designated as shelters.

Israel’s offensive in Lebanon is part of its “new phase” of the Gaza war, which many say jeopardizes US-led negotiations to secure a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. UN Secretary General Ant³nio Guterres has warned that a full-scale war could turn Lebanon into what is Gaza today – destroyed.