Already a subscriber? Make sure to log into your account before viewing this content. You can access your account by hitting the “login” button on the top right corner. Still unable to see the content after signing in? Make sure your card on file is up-to-date.
Israel has renewed airstrikes targeting Hezbollah positions in Lebanon while simultaneously signaling its intent to maintain a long-term military presence in parts of Gaza.
Some shit you should know before you read: There’s a lot of moving parts to this shit, so we’re going to break it down piece by piece. First, the ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel was brokered earlier this year by the United States, France, and other countries in the region. It sought to end over a year of cross-border attacks. Under the deal, Hezbollah agreed to pull its fighters and weapons back from the border, while the Lebanese army would increase its presence in the south to prevent attacks on Israel. In return, Israel was supposed to withdraw from positions it had occupied during the conflict. However, tensions persisted, with Israel renewing strikes on what they say are Hezbollah targets and accusing Lebanon of failing to fully deploy its forces. Meanwhile, Israel also exited a separate ceasefire agreement with Hamas, arguing that the group had rejected proposals to release the remaining hostages held in Gaza. Hamas, on the other hand, claimed Israel tried to manipulate the deal—particularly by avoiding the second phase that would’ve included a permanent ceasefire and full troop withdrawal—accusing Israel of acting in bad faith and using hostage negotiations as leverage without committing to ending the war.
What’s the deal in Lebanon: According to Lebanese officials, at least seven people, including a child, were killed and 40 others injured in a series of Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon—the deadliest flare-up since the ceasefire with Hezbollah was established. The strikes came in two waves, hitting what the Israeli military described as dozens of rocket launchers, command centers, infrastructure sites, and a weapons storage facility linked to Hezbollah. Israel claimed the attacks were a direct response to rocket fire from Lebanese territory into northern Israel, though no group has claimed responsibility for the initial barrage.
Lebanon’s government has condemned the strikes as a violation of its sovereignty and a breach of the ceasefire agreement and said that Hezbollah denied involvement in the rocket attack earlier. The Lebanese army did confirm that they dismantled three “primitive” rocket launchers in the south and launched an investigation into the origin of the attack. Meanwhile, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun warned against efforts to drag Lebanon into another cycle of violence, and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said the escalation risked sparking a new war.
What’s the deal in Gaza: Israeli officials have announced plans to maintain a permanent military presence in parts of Gaza unless all remaining hostages held by Hamas are released. Defense Minister Israel Katz said the military has been instructed to seize additional territory, expand security zones, and evacuate civilians from targeted areas to ensure the long-term protection of Israeli border communities. The latest ground operations, particularly in the southern city of Rafah, have resulted in the deaths of more than 100 civilians—most of them women and children—according to Gaza’s health ministry. In total, estimates indicate that roughly 500 people have been killed and nearly 1,000 injured in Gaza since the collapse of the ceasefire earlier this week.
Israel’s decision to intensify its offensive has drawn sharp criticism from several Middle Eastern countries, with Egypt labeling the renewed assault a “blatant violation” of the ceasefire and warning it could destabilize the broader region. The United Nations has also raised alarms over the worsening humanitarian crisis, particularly as access to food, fuel, and medical supplies remains blocked.
Despite the criticism, Israeli officials say the latest military actions are necessary for national security. Defense Minister Israel Katz said earlier that continued military pressure—including air, sea, and ground strikes—is aimed at crippling Hamas’s ability to regroup and ensuring long-term deterrence. Officials have also accused Hamas of embedding themselves within civilian populations, which they argue is why civilian casualties have been so high.
