UN Security Council to Meet on Lebanon Wednesday
The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Wednesday to discuss the explosive situation in Lebanon, which is subjected to relentless Israeli air strikes targeting Hezbollah positions.

"After consulting with the delegations... the Presidency intends to schedule the briefing on the situation in Lebanon for tomorrow, Wednesday September 25 at 6:00 pm (2200 GMT)," said Slovenia's mission to the UN, which holds the rotating presidency of the council, adding that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres would speak at the meeting.

On Tuesday, the Israeli air force carried out a series of strikes throughout the day on several targets of the pro-Iranian formation, killing at least a dozen people. The Ministry of Health did not give a death toll.

Raids continued into the night, albeit at a slower pace than on Monday.

Shortly after midnight, Israeli aircraft targeted a Hezbollah's arms depot, in the area between Saadiyate and Jiyeh, south of Beirut, for the first time since October 8, 2023. The explosions were heard as far away as Beirut, as rescue teams rushed to the scene.

Since Monday, Lebanon is still under intense Israeli attacks, with the southern front ablaze. For the second day, Israel struck Hezbollah-controlled areas in Beirut. Civilians, advised by Israel to evacuate buildings possibly storing weapons, are fleeing in search of shelter.

Strikes all over Lebanon

On tuesday, the Israeli army carried out extensive strikes on Hezbollah targets, however at a less frequent pace than yesterday. The strikes targeted the towns of Abbasiya, Tura, Bafliya, Humayri, Ansariya, Ghaziyeh, Anqoun, Kfar Kila, Marwanieh, Dawudiya, the hills of Msayleh and the Zahrani River between Azza and Bafleh, the town of Taybeh-Haret Baydar al-Fuqani, Humin, Ain Qana, the town of Jibshit, the vicinity of Nabih Berri Avenue in Nabatieh and the outskirts of Mayfadoun and Kawthariyat al-Sayyad, the town of Ramadiya in the Tyre district and for the third time today, they raided Arid Marjayoun, also known as Arid Debbine. The Israeli airstrike targeted a house in Zefta. In Naqoura, near the outskirts of Qlayleh and Mansouri, an Israeli drone targeted a house on the road to Nabi Sheet with two missiles.



Hezbollah targets

The Iran-backed group claimed for its part several attacks today. It targeted the Shimshon Base (a command preparation center and a regional preparation unit) with Fadi-3 missiles. It also targeted the Rosh Pinna and Gesher HaZiv settlements.

The Israeli media said that 220 rockets have been launched from Lebanon so far, the largest number fired by Hezbollah in a single day since the start of the war.

It also said that 40 rockets landed in Safed without being intercepted, and some residents are saying that the Iron Dome is not working.

Casualty tolls

The casualty tolls have risen, as the intense attacks still claim lives every day. The Lebanese Emergency Committee announced that the death toll from the Israeli airstrikes launched on Monday has risen to 564. Among the victims, Ali Chokor, a member of the Lebanese Army, was killed in an Israeli airstrike that hit Nabi Sheet.

The General Directorate of the Islamic Health Society announced in a statement that the toll from the Israeli airstrike on a residential building in the town of Nabi Ila, in the Beqaa, has reached 5 dead and 6 wounded as of 5:15 PM.

The directorate noted that the search is still ongoing for missing individuals, and the body of a woman has been recovered.

Additionally, Islamic Health Society paramedic Qassem Kallas was killed after being targeted by an Israeli airstrike this afternoon while evacuating civilian casualties in Upper Nabatieh, as part of a rescue team.

Moreover, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) announced on Tuesday the deaths of two of its members in Lebanon, Dina Darwiche and Ali Basma.

Pan-Arab television station al-Mayadeen said a journalist working with the station's website, Hadi al-Sayyed, had been killed in an Israeli strike on his hometown on Monday.

Israel continues to target top-ranking Hezbollah leaders. An Israeli airstrike on the southern suburbs of Beirut on Tuesday killed Ibrahim Qubaisi, a Hezbollah commander who was a leading figure in its rocket division.

The Lebanese Health Ministry gave an initial toll of six dead and 15 wounded in the Beirut strike, which hit a building in the usually busy Ghobeiry neighborhood. One of the security sources shared a photo showing damage to the top floor of the five-story building.



Educational institutions

In light of the ongoing Israeli aggression against Lebanon and in anticipation of further developments, caretaker Minister of Public Health Firass Abyad announced his decision to close all childcare centers across Lebanese territory until the end of the week.

Moreover, Caretaker Minister of Education Abbas Halabi announced on Tuesday afternoon an extension of the closure of schools and suspension of classes until the end of this week.

This extension applies to public and private schools, high schools, institutes and vocational schools across various regions.

Massive exodus

A massive wave of displacement has been recorded from villages in southern Lebanon as airstrikes near civilian targets have intensified since Monday. Civilians were stuck on roads until today (Tuesday), fleeing the conflict and searching for houses to stay in.

Caretaker Minister of the Environment Nasser Yassin stated, in a press conference today, that the airstrikes led to the displacement of a large number of Lebanese.

“We have activated the national operations room in cooperation with Mikati (caretaker Prime Minister). We have also mobilized the work of the High Relief Committee to secure the basic needs of the displaced,” he added.

He pointed out that they opened “252 public schools to serve as shelters, accommodating 27,000 displaced individuals, and we have started distributing basic assistance and food.”

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