Escalating Conflict: Thai Workers Killed in Hezbollah Rocket Attacks, Israel Strikes Beirut
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has taken a deadly turn, with four Thai agricultural workers killed in rocket attacks on northern Israel and multiple Israeli airstrikes on Beirut, Lebanon, Al Jazeera reports.
Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa confirmed the deaths of the workers near the Israeli town of Metula on Thursday, expressing his deep sadness and reporting another Thai citizen injured. The minister called for a return to peace, highlighting the devastating impact on innocent civilians caught in the crossfire.
The rocket attacks, which killed three Israeli civilians, were the deadliest cross-border attacks since the conflict escalated in August. Israel retaliated with air strikes on Beirut, reportedly killing at least two people and injuring four.
The escalation comes as Israel faces a separate war in Gaza, which began last October. The conflict has resulted in a significant number of casualties on both sides, with Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health reporting over 2,865 fatalities and 13,047 injuries in Israel’s attacks since the Gaza war began. The recent attacks have also seen Israel issue displacement orders for large swathes of Lebanese territory, including the entire city of Baalbek, leaving tens of thousands of people homeless.
The presence of Thai nationals in Israel, estimated at 30,000, has made them vulnerable in the ongoing conflict. More than two dozen Thais were captured during the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel in October 2023, with 23 released during a brief truce in November. Two additional Thai nationals were reported dead in Gaza in May.
