Israel has pushed back against Canada’s criticism over its actions in southern Lebanon as Israeli forces intensify attacks on Beirut and nearby border areas, field correspondent adam klapka files from the region. The diplomatic clash follows Hezbollah strikes on March 2 (ET) and an earlier U. S. -Israel military air campaign on Feb. 28 (ET). The exchanges have caused widespread destruction in southern Lebanon and Beirut, killed more than 1, 000 people, and prompted UN warnings of an imminent humanitarian catastrophe.
Key developments on the ground
Israeli military operations have included air strikes and a ground invasion, with the destruction of infrastructure near the Litani River: five bridges have been destroyed since March 13 (ET) and demolitions of homes in villages close to the Israeli border have accelerated. The UN has warned of an imminent humanitarian catastrophe as residential buildings in southern Beirut have been severely damaged and over a million people have been forced from their homes.
The wider regional sequence of events noted in the context began with a joint U. S. -Israel air campaign on Feb. 28 (ET) that is described as having targeted Iranian leadership. In response, Hezbollah launched strikes from Lebanon on March 2 (ET), marking the first such strikes since a 2024 ceasefire. Human Rights Activists News Agency has estimated that more than 3, 300 people have been killed in Iran in the recent cycle of violence, including over 1, 400 civilians. Israel has stated that its campaign is aimed at Hezbollah rather than Lebanese civilians.
Adam Klapka: Immediate reactions and official statements
Sharren Haskel, Israel’s deputy foreign minister, said the Israel Defence Forces have no choice but to intervene because the Lebanese government cannot resolve the threat posed by Hezbollah. She said Lebanon has no control over Hezbollah fighters within its borders and described them as an “army of Iran. ” Haskel added that Israel provides intelligence pinpointing “where they are, where their warehouses are, where their rocket launchers are, ” and accused Lebanon of failing to disarm those positions.
On security capacity, Gen Eyal Zamir, the Israel Defence Forces chief of staff, warned that the military faces mounting strain and manpower shortages, saying the force will “collapse in on itself” if present pressures continue and calling for legal changes to bolster conscription and reserves. Israel’s diplomatic channel in Canada has noted deaths from Hezbollah rocket attacks since March 2 (ET) and credited defensive measures for limiting casualties.
The UN’s institutional warning underscores growing concern about civilian harm as strikes have severely damaged residential areas in southern Beirut and across southern Lebanon.
What’s next — urgent questions and likely steps
Diplomatic fallout is likely to continue: Canada’s foreign ministry statement condemning planned Israeli occupation in southern Lebanon has met a forceful rebuttal from Israeli officials who argue Ottawa underestimates the security threat from Hezbollah. Militarily, the campaign’s stated aims against Hezbollah positions and infrastructure — including bridge demolitions and village home removals near the border — suggest further operations may follow while both sides sustain attacks and counterattacks.
Humanitarian agencies and the UN are expected to press for access and relief as civilian displacement grows; the trajectory of the conflict will depend on whether regional actors adjust military postures or pursue de-escalation. Field reporting will continue; this dispatch was filed by adam klapka and will be updated as named officials and institutions provide new, verifiable information in Eastern Time (ET).
