Smoke rises over southern Lebanon following recent airstrikes by Israel, as the ongoing conflict between Israeli forces and Hezbollah escalates. The Israeli military confirmed that it targeted multiple Hezbollah locations overnight, a day after airstrikes reportedly led to nearly 500 casualties, prompting a mass exodus from affected areas.

In response, Hezbollah claimed it launched attacks on various Israeli military assets, including an explosives factory located about 60 kilometers inside Israel, using Fadi rockets in the early morning hours. The group also targeted the Megiddo airfield near Afula with three separate strikes.

After nearly a year of military operations against Hamas in Gaza, Israel has now refocused its attention on the northern border, where Hezbollah has been supporting Hamas by firing rockets into Israeli territory. Following the increase in Israeli military activity, Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati plans to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York to seek further diplomatic engagement.

The ongoing conflict has raised alarms about the possibility of wider involvement from the United States, a strong ally of Israel, and Iran, known for supporting various militias across the Middle East, including Hezbollah, the Houthis in Yemen, and other factions in Iraq. The situation has further complicated following Hezbollah's recent losses from a security breach, attributed to Israeli intelligence operations, which highlighted the group's vulnerabilities.

The foreign ministers of the G7 group have expressed concern that the instability in the Middle East could escalate into a broader war, detrimental to all parties involved. In light of the ongoing hostilities, Israel may consider expanding its military campaign, which could potentially lead to invasions of southern Lebanon or intensified airstrikes on Hezbollah-controlled regions in Beirut and surrounding infrastructure.

Nonetheless, Lebanon is facing a severe financial crisis, which makes the potential for additional destruction deeply concerning for the already struggling nation, grappling with the aftermath of its ongoing financial collapse over the past five years.