Lebanon’s Information Minister, Ziad Makary, announced during a cabinet session on Sunday that diplomatic efforts to establish a ceasefire with Israel are ongoing. This statement comes in the wake of intensified military confrontations, which have resulted in significant casualties.
Israeli Airstrikes Claim Lives in Lebanon
Reports indicate that multiple airstrikes occurred in the Bekaa Valley, approximately 30 kilometers east of Beirut, leading to at least 11 fatalities. Among the victims were individuals struck when an airstrike hit a residence in the town of Ain. Since hostilities escalated on October 8, 2023, Lebanon’s death toll has surpassed 1,700, exceeding the casualties of the 2006 war. More than 8,400 individuals have sustained injuries, with the majority of deaths recorded over the last ten days.
The relentless airstrikes and cross-border attacks have severely impacted the humanitarian situation, displacing over 1 million people, primarily from Southern Lebanon, and further deepening the region’s crisis.
Lebanese Army Calls for Unity Amid Crisis
In response to the recent violence, the Lebanese Army has urged citizens to maintain national unity and avoid actions that could disrupt civil peace. “In light of the Israeli enemy’s ongoing attacks, which have led to the martyrdom of Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and many others, the Army Command emphasizes the importance of solidarity during this critical juncture,” stated an official communiqué.
Recovery Operations Underway Following Targeted Strike
Recovery efforts are ongoing at the site of Hezbollah’s bombed headquarters in Beirut, following Friday’s airstrike that killed Nasrallah and other senior leaders. Eyewitness footage reportedly shows recovery teams retrieving a body wrapped in white cloth from the blast area.
The Army Command continues to implement necessary security measures to maintain civil peace and calls upon citizens to cooperate with these efforts, emphasizing that national unity remains Lebanon’s best defense against external threats.
