Israel launched airstrikes in Lebanon today, killing over 250 people according to Lebanon’s health ministry. This makes it the deadliest day of the Israel-Hezbollah conflict in the past year.

The latest attack has lead to fears of an all-out regional conflict in the Middle East. As William Christou explains ‘the UN voiced alarm at the escalating violence. “We are extremely concerned, deeply worried about the escalation in Lebanon,” Ravina Shamdasani, a spokesperson for the UN human rights office, told Agence France-Presse. “It appears that both the actions and the rhetoric of the parties to the conflict is taking the conflict to another level.” Since the beginning of the war between Hamas and Israel, the Israeli military and Hezbollah have managed to avoid an all-out war, engaging instead in a limited conflict of attrition. However, escalating strikes and counter strikes have raised fears of an all-out conflict. Last week, walkie-talkies and pagers bought by Hezbollah for its members exploded, killing 42 people and wounding more than 3,000, and on Friday an Israeli strike on a Beirut suburb killed a top Hezbollah military commander and more than a dozen fighters, as well as dozens of civilians including children.’ (Christou.2024) As Christou has found, the rising escalation in violence between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon raises fears of an all-out regional conflict, coupled with Israel’s ongoing offensive against Hamas in the region, further bloodshed in the conflict is expected.

Orla Guerin reports on how the latest escalation has drawn international concern from various actors. As Guerin remarks ‘the latest cross-border exchanges have sparked renewed international concern. UN chief Antonio Guterres told CNN he feared "the possibility of transforming Lebanon [into] another Gaza".The UN special co-ordinator in Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, posted on X that the Middle East was on the brink of "imminent catastrophe". "It cannot be overstated enough: there is NO military solution that will make either side safer," she posted on Sunday. US President Joe Biden said Washington would do "everything we can to keep a wider war from breaking out". The EU said it was "extremely" concerned, while UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy called for an "immediate ceasefire".’ (Guerin.2024) As Guerin has suggested, Israel’s attack on Lebanon is causing great concern amongst the international community, who suggest it is an imperative that an all-out war is prevented. Mediation efforts by international bodies will be needed in the coming weeks to stem the ongoing escalation of violence.