Week of fire that generates a lot of concern worldwide, especially in the United States, due to the harsh situation in the Middle East, which has notably deteriorated drastically due to the recent increase in hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.
On the morning of Friday, September 20, the militant Lebanese group launched more than 140 rockets towards northern Israel, marking the most significant attack since October 7 of last year.
In response, the Israel Defense Forces carried out an intensive bombing on several areas of Beirut, including the elimination of Ibrahim Aqeel, a senior Hezbollah commander who was wanted by the United States. According to a military statement, the attacks were carried out by the Israeli Intelligence Division, and Aqeel was known for his involvement in military operations and missile attacks.
For decades, the United States had been searching for Aqeel, whom they accused of being involved in various attacks that cost the lives of more than 350 people, most of them American Marines, in 1983.
The Marines arrived as peacekeeping forces summoned by the Lebanese government in the midst of the civil war in that country. On October 23, suicide trucks with explosives detonated at the barracks of the American and French military, resulting in 307 deaths. The incident occurred months after another attack, this time at the US Embassy in Beirut, which claimed the lives of over 60 people.
Relentless vengeance and concern from the United States
Hezbollah reported in the last few hours that at least 8 people have died and more than 59 have been injured as a result of Israeli bombings. The group claims to have attacked an Israeli intelligence base in retaliation. The increasing tension has led Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to postpone his trip to New York, initially scheduled for September 24, due to the instability on the border with Lebanon.
From the United States, there is a growing concern that a possible Israeli ground incursion into southern Lebanon could trigger an uncontrollable regional conflict.
On the other hand, President Joe Biden called for facilitating the return of displaced populations, with over 60,000 evacuees in northern Israel and similar numbers in Lebanon.