Hezbollah Pounds Israeli Settlements And Military Bases In Northern Israel
Key Takeaways
- Hezbollah attacked Israeli settlements and military sites in northern Israel, including Acre and near Shamma.
- Israel launched attacks in Lebanon amid growing talks between Lebanon and Israel.
- Lebanese officials pursue direct talks with Israel to end the conflict.
Hezbollah's Military Campaign
Hezbollah intensified its military campaign against Israeli targets, launching attacks on settlements and military infrastructure across northern Israel.
The group used precision-guided drones and loitering gliders to strike IOF units, Merkava tanks, and bases including the Stella Maris naval base in Haifa.
Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem reaffirmed the group's rejection of negotiations with Israel.
The Lebanese government had planned to participate in a Washington meeting with the US and Israel to discuss a ceasefire.
Hezbollah vehemently opposed the government's approach.
Divergent Death Toll Reports
The death toll from the Rahman Textile factory fire became a point of contention among sources.
The Bangladeshi government and Reuters reported at least 28 workers killed.
The Dhaka Tribune and Guardian cited 33 confirmed dead as police detained factory owner Faisal Rahman.
Al Jazeera correspondents counted at least 41 bodies, a significantly higher figure.
Fire service chief Mahmud Iqbal said the building lacked functioning fire escapes.
Locked Exits and Corporate Murder
Survivors described workers pounding on locked metal doors as smoke filled the stairwells.
Nasrin Begum told Al Jazeera: We could hear them screaming but we could not reach them.
The Bangladesh Garment Workers' Federation called a nationwide strike.
Kalpona Akter said Rahman Textile had been cited for fire safety violations in 2024 but continued operating.
Akter declared: This was not an accident. This was corporate murder.
Labour Minister Tahmina Akhter pledged an immediate government investigation.
European Brands and Broken Audits
Rahman Textile produced clothing for European brands including Hessen and BrandBox.
Both companies said they were deeply saddened and would review their operations.
Hessen's compliance team had audited the factory in March.
Rahman Textile owner Faisal Rahman claimed the factory had passed its most recent safety inspection in January.
Clean Clothes Campaign said the audit system was fundamentally broken.
Rahman was being questioned about allegations that emergency exits had been welded shut.
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