BEIRUT: The head of the Lebanese parliament's foreign affairs committee, MP Fadi Allama, revealed that “the number of attacks on South Lebanon has exceeded 5,736 until July 15, killing 538 and injuring 1,850.”
The Foreign Affairs Committee met on Wednesday with several ambassadors from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Britain and Canada to present the results of the ongoing Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon in preparation for the “post-ceasefire phase of government work”. .”
Deputy Alam said that “representatives of diplomatic missions and international organizations were surprised when we talked about 1,800 hectares deliberately burned by the Israeli enemy. They were also surprised by the number of schools that came under scrutiny and the number of students who failed to complete their studies and moved elsewhere. In addition, they were informed of the 28,000 new families that have been displaced from areas that are being targeted on a daily basis.”
The parliamentarian noted that the government needs to develop a plan and road map as soon as possible.
MP Wael Abu Faur, a member of the parliament's foreign affairs committee, said that “the loss of people, health, cities, agriculture and the environment as a result of Israeli attacks has become enormous. Initial estimates from Lebanese institutions put the cost to date at around $2 billion, in addition to other damages and losses.”
Abu Faur said: “This is a new challenge for the Lebanese state to deal with in Lebanon's Arab and international relations. The state is bankrupt and unable to carry out such duties, but at the same time it cannot abandon its duties to its citizens, regardless of any controversial local political opinions regarding the possibility of war or its justification among some parties.”
Fighting between Hezbollah and the Israeli army continued on Wednesday. According to Israeli media, “43 settlements were evacuated in the north, (and) more than 1,500 buildings, vehicles and infrastructure were damaged in the north. In addition, six industrial zones were affected, and hundreds of businesses were forced to close due to Hezbollah strikes.”
On Wednesday, Israel carried out airstrikes and artillery fire on the cities of Kafr Shuba, Tayr Harfa and Hula. The raid also targeted a house in the city of Kfar Hamam, causing it to be destroyed. This small village is located in Hasbaya District on the eastern side of Nabatieh Governorate.
Hezbollah released a new video recorded by a Hudhud drone in Israel, showing footage from the Ramat David Air Base, located about 50 km from the Lebanese border.
According to Hezbollah, “the footage was taken on Tuesday using a drone.”
A new eight-minute video released by Hezbollah shows several sensitive areas of the base, including jet fuel tanks, the headquarters of Squadron 109, the Iron Dome missile defense platform and ammunition depots. It also shows the location of the headquarters of Squadron 157 and Squadron 105. Hezbollah included an image of the base commander's office, revealing intricate details of the facility.
This is not the first time Hezbollah has used such tactics. Previously, the group broadcast video footage of important sites taken by similar drones in Haifa and the Golan Heights.
Israeli media reacted sharply, with one publication declaring: “More than eight minutes of Hezbollah video showing our vulnerability is a disgrace.”
The Israeli military, however, downplayed the incident, saying the footage was taken by a drone intended solely for photography and did not affect the operation of the base.
A Hezbollah source linked the time of the video's release to the visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Washington.
Amid these developments, the Israeli military announced on Wednesday that its “reserve brigade has completed an exercise simulating war scenarios in Lebanon.”
Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir expressed support for an all-out war against Hezbollah, saying, “The sooner the better.”
However, Israel's ambassador to Russia, Simona Halperin, claims that Tel Aviv, which is ready for a military confrontation with Lebanon, still prefers a diplomatic resolution.
She emphasized that Israel is not interested in a large-scale war. “We cannot rule out a scenario where Israel could be forced into a full-scale war on the northern front,” she added.
Coinciding with Israel's military rhetoric, the Canadian Embassy in Lebanon has issued updated guidance to its citizens.
He urged “Canadians, permanent residents, their spouses and dependent children to heed travel advisories and leave the country while commercial flights are available.”
The embassy emphasized that it is focused on helping citizens obtain the necessary travel documents and keeping families together during the process.
The escalation comes as thousands of Lebanese expatriates with dual citizenship from Canada, the US and Europe have arrived in Lebanon for their summer vacation.
