The latest escalation between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group is exacerbating Lebanon's dire humanitarian situation.
"Lebanon is in a state of panic," Kelly Petillo, program manager for Middle East and North Africa at the European Council on Foreign Relations, told DW. "Thirty-one people were killed on the eve of this week's Eid holiday."
Lebanon was drawn into the wider Middle East war on March 2, 2026, when Hezbollah fired at Israel two days after the US and Israel attacked Iran. According to Lebanon's Health Ministry, more than 3,213 people have been killed and more than 1 million people remain displaced following nearly three months of Israeli strikes.
This week, hopes for an end of the fighting were further dimmed after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Hezbollah's increased use of explosive drones threatens the lives of civilians in Israel's north and "requires of us now to increase the blows, to increase the intensity. We will smite them hip and thigh."
Israel has been attacking Hezbollah infrastructure and building up a growing military presence further into southern Lebanon. Hezbollah meanwhile has been targeting Israel's north and Israeli military in Lebanon's south.
