Israel's Rampage in Beirut: Casualties Rise Amid US Support and Escalating Tensions

**Fueled by U.S. Support, Israel's Aggression Intensifies:** The recent Israeli assault on the southern suburbs of Beirut highlights the sense of confidence within the Israeli military, bolstered by the steadfast backing of the United States, as noted by Rami Khoury, a professor at the American University of Beirut. As of September 20, 2024, Lebanon's Health Ministry reports that at least 12 individuals have lost their lives and 66 others have been injured, with nine in critical condition, following the attack in the densely populated southern suburb. "Efforts to clear the rubble are still ongoing," the ministry stated. According to Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA), five children were among those affected by the airstrike on a building on Jamous Street in southern Beirut on Friday, where an F-35 jet conducted two strikes on the residential area. This escalation follows a series of explosions involving wireless communication devices across Lebanon, coinciding with months of rising tensions between Israel and Hezbollah. Khoury expressed to Al Jazeera that while he does not foresee an all-out regional war in the immediate future, an intensification of the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah seems unavoidable.