Hamas leader Salah al-Bardawil and his wife were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Khan Younis, southern Gaza. Hamas confirmed their deaths on Sunday morning.
Israel’s Airstrikes in Lebanon
On Saturday night, Israel carried out airstrikes in various parts of Lebanon, killing seven people. Israel said the attack was in response to rockets fired from Lebanon. This was Israel’s first major attack since the four-month ceasefire with Hezbollah.
Hezbollah’s Response
Hezbollah released a statement saying that it did not fire rockets into Israel and that it was following the ceasefire agreement. However, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reported that six rockets were launched from Lebanon’s Metula city, with three entering Israeli territory before being destroyed mid-air.
The IDF said it could not identify the attackers, but it targeted Hezbollah command centers and several rocket launch sites.
Israel Resumes Attacks on Gaza
Last Tuesday, Israel ended the ceasefire and resumed airstrikes in Gaza, killing over 600 Palestinians so far. The Israeli army has planned new attacks on three areas in Gaza and has warned civilians to leave.
Israel has ordered more intense attacks on Gaza until Hamas releases 59 hostages. Reports suggest that only 24 of these hostages are still alive.
A previous ceasefire agreement on January 19 had included a plan for hostage releases, but Israel claims Hamas has not followed through.
Netanyahu Orders More Strikes on Lebanon
According to the Times of Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the army to carry out large-scale attacks in Lebanon. The military has been instructed to target multiple locations.
Meanwhile, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has also directed his forces to take necessary actions, but he emphasized that Lebanon does not want war.
According to Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA), Israel’s attack on Tulin village in southern Lebanon killed five people, including a child, and injured ten others.
Background of the Conflict
On October 7, 2023, Hamas attacked Israel, and Hezbollah soon joined the fight by launching missiles, drones, and rockets. Since September, Israel has carried out major airstrikes, killing several senior Hezbollah leaders.
So far, the conflict has resulted in over 4,000 civilian deaths in Lebanon and has displaced around 60,000 Israelis.
Ceasefire Agreement and Ongoing Issues
Under the ceasefire agreement, Israel was supposed to withdraw from all Lebanese areas by the end of January, but the deadline was extended to February 18. However, Israel remains in five locations in Lebanon.
Lebanon has asked the United Nations (UN) to pressure Israel into a full withdrawal. The UN peacekeeping force has also expressed concerns over the rising tensions and has urged both sides to remain calm.
