Israel-Hezbollah conflict: Satellite images reveal devastation wrought by IDF’s campaign in Lebanon

One of the most senior remaining leaders of Hezbollah has issued a chilling video message, promising “pain” for the Israelis.

Before and after satellite images showing the devastating effect of Israeli strikes on a town in Lebanon.

Lebanese state media claims a flurry of Israeli strikes on the country’s capital, Beirut, caused “massive destruction” on Tuesday, local time.

Meanwhile satellite images have emerged showing the devastating effect of the Israeli Defence Forces’ campaign on villages near the border in southern Lebanon.

“Beirut’s southern suburbs are still being subjected to a series of strikes, the latest of which hit the main road at Al-Kafaat, and caused massive destruction,” Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported.

Beirut’s suburbs have been the target of intense Israeli strikes for several consecutive days.

Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement and its foe Israel have been exchanging near-daily cross-border fire for nearly a year in fallout from the Gaza war.

But since September 23, Israel has launched devastating air strikes on targets in Lebanon that have killed more than 1150 people and forced more than a million to flee their homes.

Read on for the latest updates from the conflict in the Middle East.

Smoke rises from an Israeli air strike in, Beirut on Tuesday.

‘Feel the pain’: Hezbollah’s chilling message

Naim Qassem, the deputy leader of Hezbollah, has spoken of the terrorist group’s “determination” to keep fighting Israel in a chilling new video.

“War has never, ever hit our will, our determination to still resist and to still fight,” Qassem said in the video message.

“Netanyahu can say that he wants a war, Netanyahu can start a war, but Netanyahu cannot achieve his goals or his aims.

“We hit them. We let them feel the pain, using our drones and our missiles, and we will hit at the time we decide, according to our military plan to achieve our goals.”

Naim Qassem has vowed that Hezbollah will keep fighting. Picture: Al Jazeera

Israeli minister’s trip to US cancelled

Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has cancelled a scheduled visit to the United States, where he was expected to meet with his counterpart, General Lloyd Austin.

“We were just informed that Minister Gallant will be postponing his trip to Washington. Secretary Austin looks forward to seeing him soon,” the Pentagon’s deputy press secretary, Sabrina Singh, said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly blocked the trip, telling Mr Gallant not to go until he receives a call from US President Joe Biden.

Mr Netanyahu has been trying to organise a call with Mr Biden since last week, when Iran struck against Israel, to speak about Israel’s potential retaliation. That still hasn’t happened. Perhaps it has something to do with Mr Biden’s private views of the Israeli Prime Minister, which you can read about in an earlier post.

Before-and-after satellite images show devastation

Planet Labs, a satellite imaging company, has released a set of photos showing the devastation wrought upon a village in southern Lebanon by Israeli strikes.

Maroun al-Ras is a mere 700 metres or so from Israel’s side of the border with Lebanon. Video posted online today showed an Israeli flag being planted in the “Iran Garden”, on the outskirts of the village.

The IDF says it isn’t actually occupying Maroun al-Ras, though Hezbollah claims to have attacked a grouping of Israeli soldiers, inside the village, with a missile.

The satellite images from Planet Labs show Maroun al-Ras from above.

The first image was taken on September 29. The second, taken on October 8, shows large areas that are black and burnt out after Israeli bombardment.

On the bottom you can see Maroun el-Ras on September 29. Above is the same village on October 8, with large parts of it burnt out. Picture: Planet Labs/AFP

‘Bibi, what the f***!?’: Biden’s fury with Netanyahu

The veteran investigative journalist Bob Woodward, of Watergate fame, has written a new book revealing behind-the-scenes details about US President Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump.

While the biggest headline, among media previews of the book, is probably the revelation that Mr Trump has continued to have private phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin after leaving office, Mr Woodward’s reporting also sheds light on Mr Biden’s stormy and increasingly frustrated relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

In one exchange between the pair highlighted in the book, Mr Biden expresses frustration with Mr Netanyahu for having “no strategy” in Gaza.

“What’s your strategy, man?” the US President said during a phone call in April.

“We have to go into Rafah,” Mr Netanyahu replied.

“Bibi, you’ve got no strategy!” a frustrated Mr Biden replied.

Joe Biden. Picture: Scott Olson/Getty Images via AFP

Benjamin Netanyahu. Picture: Charly Triballeau/AFP

Three months later, in July, Mr Biden yelled at Mr Netanyahu in frustration over a strike in Beirut that killed a top Hezbollah commander, along with three civilians.

“Bibi, what the f***!?” he shouted.

Privately, to his staff, Mr Biden reportedly referred to Mr Netanyahu as a “f***ing liar”.

“That son of a b****, Bibi Netanyahu, he’s a bad guy. He’s a bad f***ing guy!” Mr Biden said privately on one occasion.

Israel again targets Beirut suburbs

The IDF is once again going after Hezbollah targets in the southern suburbs of Beirut.

It recently warned residents of Haret Hreik and Hadath Beirut to move clear of multiple buildings, highlighted on a map.

“Urgent warning to the residents of the southern suburb of Haret Hreik and Hadath Beirut, specifically in the buildings specified in the maps and those adjacent to them,” it said.

“You are located near Hezbollah facilities and interests, and the IDF will act against them in the near future. For your safety and the safety of your family members, you must evacuate this building and the buildings adjacent to it immediately and stay away from it for a distance of no less than 500 meters.”

#عاجل ‼️ انذار عاجل إلى سكان الضاحية الجنوبية في حارة حريك وحدث بيروت وتحديدًا في المباني المحددة في الخرائط وتلك المجاورة لها:
🔴أنتم متواجدون بالقرب من منشآت ومصالح تابعة لحزب الله وسيعمل ضدها جيش الدفاع على مدى الزمني القريب
🔴من أجل سلامتكم وسلامة أبناء عائلتكم عليكم اخلاء… pic.twitter.com/W00ws3Q8bh

— افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) October 8, 2024

– with AFP

Originally published as Israel-Hezbollah conflict: Satellite images reveal devastation wrought by IDF’s campaign in Lebanon