WANA (Apr 08) – Amid escalating regional tensions, Israel on Wednesday announced the launch of a new military operation dubbed “Eternal Darkness” against Lebanon, reportedly involving one of the most extensive waves of airstrikes targeting dozens of locations across the country.

 

According to reports, the strikes hit various areas, including parts of Beirut and its southern suburbs, causing widespread destruction in several neighborhoods. Released images show significant damage in areas such as Corniche al-Mazraa and Basta in the Lebanese capital.

 

The Lebanese Red Cross, noting the high number of casualties, warned that the death toll and number of injuries are rising and called for the immediate deployment of emergency response teams to the affected areas.

 

Meanwhile, Israel’s Channel 12 claimed that an attempt was made during the strikes to assassinate Naim Qassem, the Secretary-General of Hezbollah. However, initial reports suggest that he was not present at the targeted location at the time of the attack.

At the same time, Israel’s Chief of Staff stated that the operation involved 50 fighter jets, which dropped approximately 160 bombs on various targets across Lebanon. He emphasized that attacks against Hezbollah would continue with full force and without interruption.

 

The Israeli military also announced that Operation “Eternal Darkness” began with strikes on 100 targets across Lebanon within a short timeframe, claiming the operation is focused and aimed at key Hezbollah command-and-control infrastructure.

 

These developments come as Israel’s Prime Minister had earlier stated that Lebanon would not be included in the two-week ceasefire agreement between Iran and the United States, and that military operations against Lebanon would continue.

 

The operation was launched just hours after the announcement of a ceasefire between Tehran and Washington, with some analysts viewing the escalation as part of broader regional dynamics and an attempt to shift the balance on the ground. Meanwhile, the Lebanese government’s response to the attacks has also drawn attention from observers.