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Battle of Tyre (2024)

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Battle of Tyre
Part of the Israel–Hezbollah conflict (2023–present) and the 2024 Israeli invasion of Lebanon
Date23 October 2024 – present
Location
Tyre District, Lebanon
Status Ongoing
Belligerents
 Israel  Hezbollah
Units involved
Casualties and losses
Israel 8 soldiers killed Hezbollah Unknown
Lebanon 7+ Lebanese civilians killed[1]
Lebanon 17+ Lebanese civilians wounded[2]

The Battle of Tyre (2024) refers to an ongoing battle between Hezbollah and the Israeli Defense Forces within the city of Tyre and several villages in the Tyre District in southern Lebanon. The battle involved several airstrikes on Tyre and several nearby villages, such as in the town of Maarakeh, resulting in multiple human casualties and extensive damage to infrastructure. The airstrikes also struck near Roman, ancient Phoenician, and Crusader archaeological sites, causing significant concern from UNESCO for the potential damaging or destruction of cultural heritage.

Background

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See also: History of Tyre, Lebanon

Tyre is a city in Lebanon, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world,[3] though in medieval times for some centuries by just a small population. It was one of the earliest Phoenician metropolises and the legendary birthplace of Europa, her brothers Cadmus and Phoenix, as well as Carthage's founder Dido (Elissa). The city has many ancient sites, including the Tyre Hippodrome, and was added as a whole to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1984.[4]

Battle

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The majority of Tyre's religiously diverse population of about 50,000 evacuated following the onset of Israeli bombardments, leaving about 14,500 residents left by 22 October 2024.[5]

Airstrikes

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On 23 October 2024, Israel launched a large airstrike in the center of Tyre, resulting in large sections of the city being destroyed. The Lebanese National News Agency and residents of Tyre reported that the airstrike resulted in major earth-shaking explosions that caused massive plumes of black smoke to emanate from the site of the airstrike, located about 500 meters from the city's Roman-period archaeological ruins. At least one strike was reported to have struck within 50 meters of the ruins, and other strikes struck close to a coastal group of ancient Phoenician and Crusader ruins. The UNESCO World Heritage organization expressed concern over possible harm done to the site, with evaluators being unable to conduct a complete damage assessment due to the ongoing conflict.[5][6][7]

The airstrike completely destroyed seven buildings, damaged over four hundred apartments, and injured at least two people. The bombardments caused large numbers of the remaining population to evacuate. The Lebanese Civil Defense used loudspeakers to issue urgent evacuation orders, with workers aiding older and disabled residents in evacuation.[5][7] Several vehicles were photographed entering Sidon after evacuating from Tyre.[6]

A couple of hours prior to the airstrikes, the Israeli Defense Forces issued evacuation warnings for a cluster of buildings in the center of the city, instructing residents to move to the north of the Awali. Israel reported that they had struck multiple "command and control complexes of various Hezbollah units", referring to Tyre as a significant Hezbollah stronghold.[5] The city was reported to be a "ghost town" by 24 October 2024.[8]

Beginning on 25 October 2024, several villages in the west of Tyre District were bombarded by airstrikes and artillery fire, including Alma al-Shaab, Dhaira, Tayr Harfa, Zebqin, Marwahin, and Yarine.[9]

On 24 October 2024,[10] the town of Maarakeh in southern Lebanon witnessed a violent escalation in the confrontations between Hezbollah and Israel. The clashes began with an intensification of Israeli raids, targeting Hezbollah sites and main roads in the area. Hezbollah responded by shelling Israeli areas with missiles and using drones, which led to injuries and losses on both sides.[11][12][13][14]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Israeli air strikes pummel Lebanese historic city of Tyre". Al Jazeera English. 2024-10-28.
  2. ^ "Israeli air strikes pummel Lebanese historic city of Tyre". Al Jazeera English. 2024-10-28.
  3. ^ "The world's 20 oldest cities". The Telegraph. 30 May 2017. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  4. ^ "World Heritage List: Tyre". United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  5. ^ a b c d "'The Whole City Shook': Israel Pounds Lebanon's Ancient Tyre". www.barrons.com. 23 October 2024. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  6. ^ a b "Israel strikes Lebanon's UNESCO World Heritage Site- the city of Tyre: What new you need to know? - Travel And Tour World". 2024-10-26. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  7. ^ a b Chehayeb, Kareem; Zaatari, Mohammed (2024-10-24). "Israel pounds ancient city of Tyre on Lebanese coast". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  8. ^ Ismail, Amina (24 October 2024). "Israeli airstrikes turn Lebanon's Tyre into ghost town". Reuters. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  9. ^ "Israeli airstrikes target southern Lebanon's Hanine, Bazouriyeh, Yohmor al-Shaqif, villages across Tyre district". National News Agency. 25 October 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  10. ^ "Israeli raid on the town of Ma'arka in the Tyre district, southern Lebanon Lebanon". Palestine and Israel news today on map - Jerusalem today - Israel News today - Palestine News today - israelpalestine.liveuamap.com. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  11. ^ "Israeli strikes pound Lebanese southern coastal city of Tyre". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  12. ^ "حزب الله وإسرائيل: ما أهمية مدينة صور اللبنانية التي هاجمتها إسرائيل لأول مرة؟" [Hezbollah and Israel: What is the significance of the Lebanese city of Tire that Israel first attacked?]. BBC News عربي (in Arabic). 2024-10-23. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  13. ^ "في صور.. استهداف سيارة على مفرق بلدة معركة (صور)". منبر طرابلس (in Arabic). 2024-08-23. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  14. ^ "مراسل التلفزيون العربي: غارة إسرائيلية تستهدف مفرق بلدة معركة في قضاء صور جنوبي لبنان Lebanon". خريطة تفاعلية أخبار فلسطين، الصراع مع إسرائيل (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-10-27.
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