Israels Invasion of Southern Lebanon Sparks Humanitarian Crisis in Region

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Over 1.2 million people in Lebanon have been forced to flee their homes since March 2, according to data from Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED). This represents approximately one-fifth of the country’s population. Since then, Israeli forces have launched over 1,840 attacks on Lebanon, resulting in more than 1,497 deaths and 4,639 injuries, as reported by Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health.

The Israeli army claims its targets are strongholds of the Iranian-backed group Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, stated that the country plans to destroy Lebanese border towns and continue its occupation of the south.

According to UNHCR data, Lebanon has one of the top 10 displacement crises globally, with over 20% of the population displaced since March 2. The number of attacks on Lebanon has been significant, with more than 2,000 incidents reported between March 2 and March 27.

The majority of these attacks were carried out by Israel, with 1,486 being air or drone attacks and 318 being shelling/artillery/missile attacks. The remainder were carried out by Hezbollah and unidentified armed groups. The most heavily attacked areas include the Nabatieh governorate in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon.

The Israeli military has targeted bridges and crossings in southern Lebanon, aiming to cut off and isolate communities. The Dalafa bridge, linking villages in southern Lebanon to western Bekaa, has also been targeted. Additionally, air attacks have severed key routes between villages in the Bekaa region.

In response to these attacks, Israel has issued displacement orders for several areas, including Beirut’s southern suburbs, the Bekaa region, and the area south of the Litani River. The Israeli army has also established new military posts in the Bint Jbeil municipality in southern Lebanon, forcing local populations to flee their homes.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that air attacks have severed key routes between villages in the Bekaa region, including the roads between Sohmor and Yohmor.

Source: Al Jazeera