Israeli airstrikes have led to a devastating day in Lebanon, with at least 274 people killed, as reported by Lebanon’s health ministry.
The attacks, part of an escalating conflict driven by Lebanon’s steadfast support for Palestine, mark the deadliest assault since the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah.
Over a thousand people have been injured as the bombardments intensified across southern regions, sending thousands of families fleeing in panic.
The violence, ignited in part by Hezbollah’s rocket attacks launched in solidarity with Palestine since October, escalated on Monday.
Israel targeted Hezbollah strongholds in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley, aiming to dismantle the group’s missile capabilities. Hezbollah retaliated with rocket fire, triggering air raid sirens in northern Israel, deepening fears of an all-out war.
Since October 7 of last year, Israeli strikes in Gaza have claimed nearly 40,000 lives, further exacerbating the devastation in the region. Lebanon, staunch in its backing of the Palestinian cause, has become a focal point of Israeli retaliation.
Hezbollah’s continued support for Palestinian resistance has made Lebanon a key target in Israel’s military response.
Civilians in Lebanon are now bearing the brunt of the conflict.
Thousands have fled their homes, clogging roads to Beirut, while hospitals struggle to care for the injured due to critical shortages. In southern Lebanon, many residents have been evacuated following Israeli warnings to steer clear of Hezbollah’s military bases.
International human rights organizations have condemned the Israeli airstrikes, pointing to the growing toll on civilians.
However, despite the mounting casualties in both Lebanon and Gaza, Hezbollah vowed to continue its fight, insisting that its actions will persist until Israel halts its military operations in Gaza.
With rising casualties in both Gaza and Lebanon, calls for international intervention have increased. Diplomatic efforts, however, remain elusive.
The region teeters on the brink of further violence, as the UN peacekeeping forces in Lebanon express concern for civilians caught in the crossfire, urging restraint from both sides. In Beirut, businesses are closing, schools have shuttered, and the population braces for the possibility of more strikes.
As Israel tightens its military strategy and Hezbollah shows no sign of backing down, the civilians of both Lebanon and Gaza are left to endure the mounting devastation, with no end to the conflict in sight.