The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has escalated with new rounds of airstrikes by Israel in Gaza and Lebanon.
Israel launched dozens of airstrikes across northeastern Lebanon on Friday, killing at least 52 people, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. Palestinians also recovered the bodies of more than two dozen people killed in an Israeli air assault in central Gaza that started on Thursday, according to local hospital officials.
The Israeli attacks in Lebanon targeted areas that included the country’s rural Bekaa Valley and in cities like Baalbek, according to the Associated Press. Lebanese lawmaker Hussein Hajj Hassan told the news agency that 60,000 people left the Baalbek area after Israel called for evacuations before the strikes.
In Gaza, the Israeli attack reportedly caused heavy damage at Nuseirat refugee camp, killing at least 21 Palestinians. The death toll included children aged 10 years and 18 months, according to health officials at the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital.
Newsweek reached out for comment to Israel Defense Forces via email on Friday night.
ETIENNE TORBEY/AFP via Getty Images
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced on Friday that the U.S. is sending more bomber aircraft and Navy warships to the Middle East to strengthen the American military’s presence in the region.
Four U.S. and defense officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press said that Austin ordered multiple B-52 Stratofortress bomber aircraft, tanker aircraft and Navy destroyers to be deployed.
In a statement, Pentagon Press Secretary Major General Pat Ryder said that the deployments were “in keeping with our commitments to the protection of U.S. citizens and forces in the Middle East, the defense of Israel, and de-escalation through deterrence and diplomacy.”
“Secretary Austin continues to make clear that should Iran, its partners, or its proxies use this moment to target American personnel or interests in the region, the United States will take every measure necessary to defend our people,” Ryder said.
Israel’s attacks come nearly one week after Israel launched airstrikes on Iran, which had attacked Israel weeks earlier. Iran has vowed to launch further attacks on Israel in response to the retaliatory strikes, although one expert on Iran recently told Newsweek that a response may ultimately be delayed or canceled.
The Israel-Gaza war began after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Lebanon-based group Hezbollah joined the conflict almost immediately, launching a barrage of missiles toward Israel. Both of the militant groups are backed and funded by Iran.
The initial Hamas attack on Israel killed around 1,200 Israelis, with hundreds more being taken hostage. Israel’s assaults on Gaza have since killed over 43,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials. A minimum of 2,897 more have reportedly been killed in Lebanon, not including Friday’s death toll.
Previous Israeli assaults on Lebanon killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and other high-ranking members of the militia. Earlier this week, Reuters reported that Israel was considering a U.S.-brokered deal for a 60-day pause in hostilities with Hezbollah, with the goal of securing a permanent end to the conflict during the pause.
Update 11/1/24, 7:47 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
