Israeli Strikes Kill Sami Youssef Al-Ghafri and Drive Nearly a Million From Homes in Lebanon

Israeli bombardments in Lebanon have “already killed hundreds of people” and driven “nearly a million from their homes,” as the military grip tightens and the occupation of the territory expands.

“Why Did You Let You Son Be a Combat Soldier”

Haaretz

On March 10, the Le Nouvel Obs report says Saint-Antoine-le-Grand Church in Beirut was overflowing, with “the ringing of bells” blending with “the metallic hum of Israeli drones”.

Haaretz

The report describes the funeral of Sami Youssef al-Ghafri, killed on March 8 by an Israeli strike in the Christian village of Alma el-Chaab near the border.

It adds that the last inhabitants of Alma el-Chaab were evacuated under escort by UNIFIL armored vehicles and some had taken shelter for “more than a week” in the basement of their church.

The mayor of Alma el-Chaab, also evacuated from the south, is shown stepping forward among mourners as he repeats the decision “he would never have wanted to make.”

On Friday, February 6, Bezalel Smotrich’s son was injured by a Hezbollah rocket attack near the Lebanese border, according to VOI.id’s report citing The Time of Israel.

VOI.id says the minister’s son was among “the eight Israeli soldiers (IDF) wounded,” and that they were taken to the hospital for treatment.

Le Nouvel Obs

The Israeli army said that “five soldiers were in critical condition,” while “three others were mildly injured,” and that the wounded were all from the Givati Brigade.

VOI.id links the injuries to Israeli forces launching a new attack in southern Beirut to expand control over the border between Lebanon and northern Israel.

The report also states that when the Israeli army began extending its operations into Lebanon, the Israeli Finance Minister threatened to destroy the region and subject it to a regime similar to Khan Younis, in Gaza.

Israel’s ground operations in southern Lebanon are expanding to additional areas, after the Israeli army confirmed crossing the Litani River and widening attacks north of the river, according to عين ليبيا.

“The controversy erupted when the IDF published a video using the famous 2004 single as the soundtrack to footage of fighter jets and ground explosions”

RTBF

The report says Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz announced the capture of the strategic Qal'at al-Shqif (Boufor) fortress and the raising of the Israeli flag atop it, adding that the site overlooks southern Lebanon.

It states that the operation came “44 years after” the “heroic battle” referring to the 1982 Lebanon War, and that soldiers “returned to the fortress summit and raised the Israeli flag again atop it.”

The report further says the Israeli army issued an urgent warning to evacuate all areas south of the Zahrani River, warning residents that “any building used by Hezbollah could become a target for bombing.”

It also reports that Israeli sources said the death toll since the start of the ceasefire announced has risen to 13, including 9 killed in drone strikes.