Lebanese residents have voiced their support for Hezbollah despite facing intensifying Israeli air raids and a potential ground invasion.
Over the past 24 hours, Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon have killed 55 people and injured 156 others, the Lebanese Health Ministry said on Tuesday.
According to the ministry, 11 of the fatalities were reported in the Baalbek-Hermel district, 22 in the Nabatieh Governorate, three in Beirut and Mount Lebanon, respectively, and 16 in the South Governorate.
"The first missile made soft sound and came through between these two buildings. Then within four seconds, a missile with louder sound came from this direction and hit the first, second and third floors. It all happened in an instant, and then the missiles struck the area," said Abu Ali Mouath, an eyewitness of Israeli attack.
All of these occurred against the backdrop of Israeli "focused and limited" ground campaign against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, and many residents expressed trust in Lebanon's ability to defend itself.
"They (Israel) are killing them (resistance) and have a plan on their mind to invade the land (southern Lebanon), I don't think the resistance will surrender. Maybe they can get a couple of miles into our borders, but to have a full land invasion (as they planned), no way, they won't steal our land. We fully trust that God and the resistance (will protect Lebanon)," said a local.
"My heart is at peace. God willing, we will be victorious. God willing, we will be victorious. God willing, just like in 2006 when we defeated them here, and they will be defeated again," said another local resident.
Many compare the current situation to the year 2006 when Israel invaded Lebanon in a failed bid to wipe out Hezbollah. Military experts acknowledge Israel's air superiority but predict a punishing ground war as Hezbollah is more prepared than the previous time.
"Their (Hezbollah's) fighters are professional, well-trained, and have been preparing the terrain for defense for the past 18 years. They have dug trenches and tunnels, and they fight a form of guerrilla warfare. A conventional military force cannot decisively win in this type of asymmetrical warfare. They will inevitably face attrition," said Hassan Jouni, a former brigadier general with Lebanese Armed Forces.
The Israeli military on Tuesday warned civilians in about 30 Lebanese villages and towns to leave home, claiming imminent Israeli attacks in the area, following their announcement that it launched a ground operation into southern Lebanon overnight.
Also on Tuesday, Hezbollah fired rockets at Tel Aviv and other central Israeli cities, Israel's rescue services said. The rockets triggered sirens across central Israel and several settlements in the northern occupied West Bank. Several other rocket attacks on Tuesday morning targeted bases in northern Israel.
Lebanese voice support for Hezbollah despite intensifying Israeli attacks
