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Israel launched dozens of new attacks in Lebanon on Sunday and vowed to continue its offensive against Hezbollah after the assassination of the militant group’s leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut.

The people of Lebanon were prepared for more attacks as the Israeli army issued new evacuation orders for civilians, including residents of southern Beirut, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that Israel’s “work is still not done” despite the killing of the influential Hezbollah leader completed”.

Netanyahu said Israel would continue its fight against the Iran-backed militant group until it managed to “change the balance of power” in the Middle East and until about 60,000 residents of northern Israel, displaced by a year of cross-border shelling, disappeared were able to return to their homeland.

The Israeli military continued to target Hezbollah leaders after killing Nasrallah on Friday in a massive attack in the southern Beirut suburb of Dahiyeh, which the country’s defense minister called “one of the most important assassinations in the history of the State of Israel.”

On Sunday, the Israel Defense Forces said it had killed Nabil Qaouk, a member of Hezbollah’s Central Council who was sanctioned by the US in 2020 for his key role in the organization.

Qaouk was believed to be in the running to succeed Nasrallah following his death. The IDF said Qaouk was killed on Saturday but did not say where. It said Qaouk had “continued to be directly involved in terrorist attacks against the State of Israel and its citizens in recent days,” adding that Israel would continue to target Hezbollah’s top echelons.

According to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, Israel’s week-long intense bombardment has killed more than 1,000 people across Lebanon. They were some of the deadliest days for the country since Israel fought a 34-day war with Hezbollah in Lebanon in 2006.

At least four paramedics were killed on Sunday. The bombardment leveled more homes in Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa Valley and southern provinces. Six bodies were pulled from under the rubble of a house in the village of al-Ain, according to Lebanese state news.

Hundreds of thousands of Lebanese civilians have been displaced since large-scale Israeli airstrikes began on Monday. Many fled to the already densely populated capital and slept in schools, on beaches and on the streets.

On Saturday, the IDF claimed to have killed Hassan Khalil Yassin, describing him as a senior member of Hezbollah’s intelligence division responsible for selecting targets in Israel.

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati declared three days of official mourning following Nasrallah’s death. He said all public and private institutions would stop working on the day of Nasrallah’s funeral.

After Nasrallah’s death, US President Joe Biden said: “The United States fully supports Israel’s right to defend itself against Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis and all other terrorist groups supported by Iran,” but added that Washington hope for a de-escalation of the conflict. through diplomatic means”.

Israel has vowed a ground offensive in southern Lebanon, where Hezbollah has a network of weapons depots and bases.

Late Saturday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant issued a statement saying he was conducting “an assessment of the operational situation regarding the expansion of IDF activities in the northern area,” where Israel had previously mobilized at least two brigades. He did not say what this expansion might entail.

Hezbollah and other members of the Iran-led so-called Axis of Resistance continued firing into Israel overnight. Most of the missiles were intercepted or landed in open areas.

Sirens wailed in northern Israel as dozens of rockets were fired from Lebanon and were also fired in central Israel. A rocket struck an open area near the Israeli settlement of Mitzpe Hagit in the occupied West Bank, sparking a fire.

The IDF said an Israeli warship intercepted a drone approaching Israel from the Red Sea on Saturday, triggering alarm in the southern resort and port city of Eilat. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility for the attempted attack.