At least 492 people have been killed and 1,645 injured in Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon since Monday morning, according to the Lebanese health ministry. Among the dead are 35 children and 58 women.
The strikes come amid escalating cross-border violence between Israel and Hezbollah. Israel, responding to rocket fire from Hezbollah in support of Hamas, carried out its most extensive air raids across southern Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley, and northern areas near Syria.
Israel has warned Lebanese citizens to evacuate regions where Hezbollah is allegedly storing weapons. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, an Israeli military spokesperson, urged civilians to flee, stating that many of the targets included homes where Hezbollah stored missiles and UAVs aimed at Israel.
Lebanon’s health minister reported that the death toll from these airstrikes marks the deadliest period since the country’s 1975-1990 civil war.
Hezbollah, which has launched multiple missile attacks on Israel, vowed to continue its assault until a ceasefire is declared in Gaza.
The situation has stoked fears of a broader Middle East conflict, with concerns of the U.S. and Iran being drawn into the war. Evacuation orders have reached as far as Beirut, with over 80,000 automated calls detected urging residents to flee.
With Lebanon still grappling with a financial crisis, the country faces mounting pressure and fears of further devastation, reminiscent of the 2006 conflict with Israel.