Lebanon suffers its heaviest casualties since the 2006 Lebanon-Israel war, with the United States deploying additional troops to the Middle East

On the 23rd local time, the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health stated that the large-scale airstrikes launched by the Israeli military in various parts of Lebanon had resulted in 492 deaths and 1645 injuries.

According to an earlier report by The Paper, Lebanon suffered its heaviest casualties since the 2006 Lebanon-Israel War, with 274 deaths from Israeli airstrikes in a single day. Additionally, as reported by CCTV News, the death toll from the Israeli airstrikes in various parts of Lebanon on September 23rd rose to 275, with 1024 people injured.

According to CCTV International News, the Israeli military conducted airstrikes on over a thousand targets within Lebanon in a single day. The Israeli military announced on the evening of September 23rd local time that they had carried out "over 1400 airstrikes on more than 1100 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon" since early morning and would continue to strike "hundreds of Hezbollah targets" in the evening.

The Israeli military claimed to have carried out "precise" airstrikes on the Lebanese capital, Beirut. On September 23rd local time, the Israel Defense Forces announced that they had conducted a round of "precise" airstrikes on Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. According to Lebanese official sources, the Israeli military fired 6 missiles at the Madi Street area in the southern suburbs of Beirut.

Video footage shot by CCTV reporters on the scene shows a large number of residents in the southern suburbs of Beirut leaving the area, causing traffic congestion on nearby streets.

An Israeli military source stated that the target of this airstrike was Ali Kourani, a senior member of Hezbollah. Later that day, Hezbollah issued a statement saying that their senior commander Ali Kourani was in good health and had been moved to a safe location. Ali Kourani is considered one of the highest-ranking military commanders of Hezbollah. Previously, there were reports that in February 2024, the Israeli military had targeted him in an airstrike in Nabatieh in southeastern Lebanon According to CCTV International News, since the early hours of September 23rd local time, there has been a significant and major escalation in the Israeli military's airstrikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon. According to the latest statement from the Israeli military, they will also launch strikes on the Bekaa Valley, about 100 kilometers from the Israeli-Lebanese temporary border, which is deep into Lebanese territory. Some Israeli media believe that the Israeli military's purpose in this move is to expand its strike range within Lebanon, create panic in the country, and the military actions of Israel advancing step by step and exerting extreme pressure are likely to provoke a comprehensive conflict between the two sides.

Israeli Defense Forces Announcement

According to CCTV News, on the evening of September 23rd local time, the Israeli Defense Forces announced that the Israeli Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi named the airstrikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon that began on the morning of the 23rd as "Operation Northern Arrow." Kohavi stated in a declaration on the evening of the 23rd:

After launching large-scale airstrikes against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon on that day, the Israeli military is "preparing for the next stage of action in Lebanon."

The Israeli strikes targeted the "combat infrastructure that Hezbollah has been building for the past 20 years."

He did not provide more details but stated that they will "soon provide a detailed explanation."

According to Xinhua News Agency, on the 23rd, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that to protect the Israeli people from Hezbollah attacks, Israel must respond with force. Israel will not wait for threats but will strike first. Israel will change the security and power balance on the northern front, and the Israeli military is destroying thousands of missiles and rockets aimed at Israeli cities and civilians. Later that day, Netanyahu made a video statement urging Lebanese people to immediately evacuate dangerous areas.

The United States is Deploying Additional Troops to the Middle East

According to CCTV News, on September 23rd local time, Pentagon spokesperson Pat Laid said that due to the escalation of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, increasing the risk of a larger regional war, the United States is deploying additional troops to the Middle East Laid did not provide detailed information on the number of troops and tasks for reinforcement.

It is reported that the United States currently has about 40,000 soldiers in the region.

Earlier, the Israeli military struck targets inside Lebanon, causing a large number of casualties. The U.S. State Department urged American citizens to leave Lebanon on the 21st.

Multiple countries condemn Israel's military escalation in Lebanon

Iran condemns Israel's attempt to create a broader conflict. Regarding the attack launched by Israel on Lebanon on the 23rd local time. Iranian President Pezheshyan criticized, "We are more aware than anyone else that if a larger-scale war breaks out in the Middle East, it is not good for anyone. It is Israel trying to create this broader conflict."

On the same day, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Kanani condemned Israel's attack as "madness." Kanani said that Israel's "crimes" in Palestinian territories and its "broader attacks on Lebanon are a serious threat to regional and international peace." He strongly criticized U.S. support for Israel and called on the UN Security Council to "immediately take action to stop these crimes."

Jordan's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ayman Safadi issued a statement on the 23rd, calling on the UN Security Council to take immediate action to stop Israel's aggression and prevent further deterioration of the regional situation.

The statement stated that Israel escalated its military actions against Lebanon during the UN General Assembly, ignoring the General Assembly and its resolutions calling on Israel to stop aggression and abide by international law. Jordan supports Lebanon and condemns Israel's aggression. Security Council Resolution 1701 must be complied with.

On the same day, Jordan's King Abdullah II spoke with Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Mikati over the phone, expressing Jordan's firm support for Lebanon and its security and sovereignty.

The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on the same day, condemning Israel's dangerous military escalation in Lebanon. Egypt reiterated its firm opposition to any violation of Lebanon's sovereignty and territory, calling on the international community and the UN Security Council to immediately intervene and stop Israel's escalation in the region Egypt calls for a peaceful resolution to the crisis, implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1701 to provide an opportunity for diplomatic solutions to the crisis.

The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on the same day, stating that Israel's attack on Lebanon marks Israel's attempt to drag the entire region into a new phase of chaos. The UN Security Council and the international community must take immediate necessary measures to resolve the crisis.

Iranian President expresses willingness to ease relations with Israel, on the condition of reciprocal commitments

On the same day, according to media reports, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that Iran is willing to ease tensions with Israel, as long as the other party makes similar commitments. At the time of the Iranian President's speech, tensions between Iran and Israel reached a new high, with Iran previously accusing Israel of being the mastermind behind a large-scale communication equipment explosion in Lebanon.

Market Reaction

Investors are paying attention to the situation in the Middle East and economic data. In early trading on Monday, the WTI crude oil rose by 1% to $71.76 per barrel. However, following the disappointing US PMI data release, oil prices fell. After the news of the Iranian President expressing willingness to ease relations with Israel on the condition of reciprocal commitments, oil prices fell by up to 2% during trading.

Subsequently, the decline in oil prices narrowed. WTI November crude oil futures closed down $0.63, or 0.89%, at $70.37 per barrel. Brent November crude oil futures closed down $0.59, or 0.79%, at $73.90 per barrel