At least 492 people have tragically lost their lives in Lebanon due to intense Israeli airstrikes targeting Hezbollah positions, according to the country’s health ministry.
This marks one of the deadliest days of conflict in nearly two decades. The Israeli military launched an operation hitting 1,600 Hezbollah targets, citing the need to dismantle infrastructure built since the 2006 war. Hezbollah retaliated by firing over 200 rockets into northern Israel, leaving two people injured.
The escalation has caused widespread displacement, with thousands of families fleeing their homes. Lebanese health authorities report that 35 children and 58 women are among the dead, and over 1,600 people have been injured.
Global leaders have expressed growing concern over the conflict. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for calm, warning against the further destabilization of Lebanon, while US President Joe Biden emphasized ongoing efforts to de-escalate the situation to ensure the safety of civilians. The EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, labeled the situation “extremely dangerous,” warning that it could spiral into full-scale war.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has urged Lebanese civilians to evacuate areas where Hezbollah is active, stating that Hezbollah has used civilian areas as shields for their operations. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) noted that many Hezbollah positions struck in southern Lebanon resulted in secondary explosions due to hidden weapons stockpiles. Meanwhile, Hezbollah has vowed to continue its military actions in support of Hamas, firing additional rockets at Israeli military positions in northern Israel.
Amidst the rising tensions, the Pentagon has announced the deployment of additional US troops to the Middle East as a precautionary measure.
Both sides remain locked in cross-border fighting, and the threat of further escalation looms as efforts to bring about a ceasefire continue. The conflict has left hundreds dead and displaced thousands, with civilians on both sides enduring immense hardships.
