In a devastating series of airstrikes on Monday, at least 274 people were killed and another 1,024 wounded in Israel, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. The casualties include children, women, and emergency responders, marking one of the deadliest barrages in nearly a year of conflict.
The recent escalation follows a wave of explosions that began last Tuesday, exacerbating tensions that had already claimed around 600 lives in Lebanon since October, predominantly among fighters but also including more than 100 civilians.
The Israeli military announced that the strikes targeted 300 Hezbollah sites in Lebanon, sharing updates on social media platform X. In a post, military chief Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi was seen approving further attacks from military headquarters in Tel Aviv. Halevi and other Israeli officials have vowed to intensify actions against Hezbollah in the days to come.
In anticipation of further strikes, the Israeli military urged civilians living near Hezbollah positions to evacuate immediately. Residents in southern Lebanon reported missile hits in populated areas, with the National News Agency of Lebanon confirming at least one death and multiple injuries in the Byblos region.
The airstrikes also targeted the northeastern Baalbek and Hermel areas. Reports indicate that a shepherd was killed, and two family members were injured in the village of Bodai. Additionally, another four individuals were wounded in Bodai and transported to local hospitals. In the southern village of Aitaroun, 11 people were reported injured, with one in serious condition.
Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated, “We are deepening our attacks in Lebanon,” adding that operations would persist until the safety of northern residents is assured. An Israeli military official emphasized a focus on aerial operations, with no immediate plans for a ground invasion.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) warned Lebanese civilians against allowing Hezbollah militants to utilize their homes for weapon storage. Local media reported that residents received text messages advising them to vacate buildings used for storing arms.
Despite these warnings, there has been no significant movement of people away from populated areas in southern Lebanon. The strikes followed a heavy exchange of fire on Sunday, when Hezbollah launched over 100 rockets, missiles, and drones into northern Israel, targeting areas near Haifa. This rocket attack was reportedly a response to an Israeli airstrike on a Beirut suburb that killed a senior Hezbollah commander and numerous others, including civilians.
