Lebanon’s Caretaker Prime Minister Calls for U.N. Cease-Fire Amid Ongoing Airstrike Crisis
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Raven Ruma
- . October 12, 2024
- . Update: October 12, 2024 4:08 pm
Desperate for peace among growing hostilities, Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister, Najib Mikati, formally asked the United Nations to approve a resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire. Rescue personnel are still sorting Beirut’s debris in search of survivors following a string of fatal airstrikes that have sadly taken at least 22 lives and left over 100 others injured. This urgent appeal comes as they work. Targeting especially heavily inhabited areas in the Lebanese capital, the bombings reflect the most catastrophic attack the city has witnessed in more than a year of increasing warfare between Israel and Hezbollah, the Shiite terrorist group.
The Effects of Airstrikes on Common People
The most recent round of strikes has caused great anxiety among Lebanese people, underscoring a terrible reality: no area in Lebanon seems to be safe from the continuous Israeli military operation against Hezbollah. Local officials expressed increasing concern as the bombardment got more intense about the possibility of strikes aggravating already high sectarian tensions in Beirut, where communities of both Sunni and Shiite Muslims live. The 50-year-old salon owner Nazik Rashid expressed her shock and anxiety since her establishment faces one of the targeted buildings in the Basta area. “It’s supposed to be a safe refuge here,” she said, looking at the damage to her salon—the explosion had shattered the front window and door. “Why would they knock on our door?” Such feelings capture the dismay and uncertainty experienced by many of the people who used to consider central Beirut as a quite safe refuge among the tumult around them.
Conflict Escalating Regional Tensions
The current conflict has seen a startling rise. Reports show that by Friday afternoon, the Israeli military said Hezbollah fired about 180 missiles into Israel, aggravating already unstable conditions. In a concerning turn of events, the Lebanese military verified that Israeli troops targeted an army post in Kafra, southern Lebanon, resulting in two dead and three injured among its personnel. The violence has not confined military personnel; United Nations peacekeeping forces have also suffered losses; two peacekeepers were hurt at their headquarters from nearby blasts.
Israeli leaders have made it abundantly evident as the bloodshed rages on that they have no intention of discussing a cease-fire as long as Hezbollah keeps a danger to northern Israel. According to reports, the continuous fighting has caused over 60,000 people to be displaced in Israel; many of them worry that things will get worse as military operations become more intense.
Demand for Diplomacy and Cease-Fire
Prime Minister Mikati underlined in his broadcast speech the urgent necessity of a diplomatic solution and urged the restoration of a 2006 U.N. agreement meant to demilitarize the border between Israel and Lebanon. This resolution was originally designed to mandate the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory, stipulating that only U.N. peacekeepers and the Lebanese Army would be permitted to operate in the southern region. By restricting Hezbollah’s military capabilities, the agreement sought to establish a framework for peace and stability along the border.
Mikati asserted, “Lebanon wants to see the deployment of the army in the south and the bolstering of its presence along the border.” He said that “Hezbollah is in agreement on this issue,” however it remains unclear if the terrorist group is actually prepared to evacuate its fighters from southern Lebanon or cease its rocket, missile, and drone strikes on Israel. Hezbollah’s media office, led by spokesperson Mohammad Afif, hinted at a potential openness to cease-fire discussions, stating that their primary objective remains the defeat of Israel while acknowledging that any diplomatic efforts to achieve a cessation would be welcomed as long as they align with their broader vision for the ongoing conflict.
Residents Live Uncertain Future
Beirut residents are left battling the emotional and physical fallout from the bombings as the dust settles. Many are quite worried that the toll of this most recent wave of strikes might keep growing. 71-year-old local Samira Ali Sbheiteh revealed her anxiety while looking for news regarding her relatives living in one of the struck buildings. “We still have no news about them,” she remarked with a worried and hopeless voice.
Particularly those who had fled conflict in southern Lebanon only to find themselves in the crosshairs of fresh attacks in central Beirut, the airstrikes have forced many to face an uncertain future. Those who fled the Hezbollah-dominated areas just south of the city have now been forced to flee once more, usually seeking cover with relatives in areas also under bomb threat. “We’re going to become homeless eventually,” said 50-year-old Sawson Moussa, a resident of one of the affected apartment complexes, fighting back tears as she remembered the horrific aftermath of the airstrikes: “Thick black smoke filled the air along my street. People drenched in blood and dust strolled bewildered, while others yelled for aid.
The Conflict’s More General Consequences
Beyond the boundaries of Lebanon, this continuous conflict has possible effects on international relations and regional stability. The escalation in military activities from Israel has also resulted in a considerable increase in losses within the ranks of the Lebanese Army, which has caused a change in military dynamics as the Lebanese forces are dragged into the battle despite their different posture from Hezbollah. Fears of a growing cycle of violence have been raised by the Lebanese military’s indication of its readiness to respond to attacks with returning fire.
Israel has charged Hezbollah with becoming deeply ingrained in southern Lebanon and building a sizable weapon and missile stockpile close to the Israeli border. Israeli officials, who claim that the militant group poses a far more threat than the Lebanese military, which is usually under control by Lebanon’s government, have become alert about this situation.
Following a lethal attack by Hamas on southern Israel the previous day, Hezbollah started rocket and drone strikes into Israel, intensifying the conflict on October 8, 2023. This synchronization of hostilities has sparked a broader regional crisis, raising questions about the involvement of international players and the potential for a wider conflict across the Middle East.
As the situation continues to unfold, the international community remains watchful, hoping for a resolution that could alleviate the suffering of countless individuals caught in the crossfire. Diplomatic efforts are essential to finding a lasting solution that addresses the underlying issues driving the conflict while providing a pathway toward stability and peace for both Lebanon and Israel. The fear and uncertainty experienced by civilians on both sides underscore the urgent need for a cease-fire and a renewed commitment to dialogue and negotiation.
