In a dramatic escalation of regional tensions, Israel has launched a series of major air strikes on targets in Lebanon. The strikes, which began in the early hours of Thursday, come as Western officials signal that a new nuclear deal with Iran is on the verge of completion. Israeli officials have warned that such a deal would allow Tehran to develop a nuclear weapon, posing an existential threat to the Jewish state.
Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group based in Lebanon, has condemned the strikes and vowed retaliation. The Lebanese government has called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. Civilian casualties have been reported, though exact numbers remain unclear as rescue operations are hampered by continued shelling.
The strikes target suspected weapons depots and rocket launchers, according to Israeli military statements. The White House has urged restraint from all parties, but stopped short of condemning the Israeli action. With the region on a knife's edge, the world watches nervously.
The cost of war will be borne, as always, by ordinary people.
