The Biden administration has issued an urgent warning for all U.S. citizens to leave Lebanon immediately. This follows a series of escalating Israeli airstrikes on Hezbollah strongholds in southern Lebanon, including a third major strike on the capital, Beirut. The White House, through National Security spokesman John Kirby, emphasized that Americans should leave while commercial flight options are still available, as regional carriers are beginning to suspend operations due to the deteriorating security situation.
Over the past two days, Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 558 people, including 50 children, and injured more than 1,800 others, according to Lebanon’s Ministry of Health. The strikes, which have targeted Hezbollah positions, have now reached residential areas in Beirut, heightening fears of a full-scale war between Israel and Hezbollah. Tuesday’s strike on Beirut’s southern neighborhood of Ghobeiri caused significant casualties, including several fatalities as rescue teams worked to clear the rubble.
#Israel is on offensive
Strikes bombing #Lebanon.
It warned citizens already to evacuate early#IsraelLebanonWar#10NewsFirst pic.twitter.com/OdlmD0efqY— Dr. Subhash (@Subhash_LiveS) September 23, 2024
The strikes come amid a broader regional escalation, with Hezbollah responding by launching over 100 rockets into northern Israel. Israeli airstrikes have focused on weakening Hezbollah’s missile capabilities, with military sources confirming that their aim is to "change the balance of power" in the region by destroying thousands of rockets and Hezbollah infrastructure.
Tensions have been rising since October 2023 when the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah began to escalate. Hezbollah has long positioned itself as the protector of southern Lebanon, but recent failures to defend its strongholds have undermined its reputation, with thousands of civilians fleeing the area for Beirut or further north to Tripoli. The UN and other international bodies have voiced concerns over the humanitarian situation, as civilians are increasingly caught in the crossfire.
❗️🇮🇱⚔️🇱🇧 – Lebanon witnessed around 80,000 suspected call attempts today, reportedly from Israeli sources, warning citizens to evacuate the area.
Many evacuations ongoing in south Lebanon towards other villages and north of Sidon.
There is a lot of congestion. Many roads cut. pic.twitter.com/vLwhXbMVeg
— 🔥🗞The Informant (@theinformant_x) September 23, 2024
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have defended their strikes, claiming they are targeting key Hezbollah figures. On Tuesday, Israeli military sources confirmed that their latest attack aimed to eliminate high-ranking Hezbollah commanders, though this remains unconfirmed by Hezbollah. Despite these claims, Lebanese authorities have reported substantial civilian casualties, further stoking tensions between Israel and its regional adversaries.
International carriers, including Gulf airlines such as Emirates and Qatar Airways, have suspended flights to Lebanon, leaving many Westerners and Lebanese nationals struggling to evacuate. The U.S. government has also prepared for potential military evacuations if commercial routes become untenable, with American warships stationed in the Mediterranean.
The latest Israeli strikes come amid broader geopolitical tensions involving Iran, which has supported Hezbollah as a proxy force against Israel. In the wake of these airstrikes, Iran’s embassy in Beirut condemned the attacks, accusing Israel of deliberately targeting civilians. This development has fueled fears of an even larger regional conflict that could draw in Iran and other powers.
Lebanon’s fragile government, already weakened by years of political dysfunction, is struggling to contain the crisis. The Lebanese Army, which has limited capabilities, has been largely powerless in the face of the recent escalation. With Hezbollah being one of the country’s most powerful political and military forces, the government has little influence over the group's actions, leaving Lebanon vulnerable to Israeli retaliation.
