492 Dead as Israeli Air Strikes Escalate Lebanon Conflict
In the deadliest day of conflict in almost two decades, at least 492 people have been killed in extensive Israeli air strikes targeting Hezbollah positions in Lebanon, according to the country’s health ministry. The strikes have forced thousands of families to flee their homes, with the Israeli military announcing it had hit over 1,300 Hezbollah targets in an effort to dismantle the armed group’s infrastructure, established since the 2006 war.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah retaliated by launching more than 200 rockets into northern Israel, injuring two people, according to Israeli paramedics. As the violence intensifies, world powers are urgently calling for restraint, fearing the conflict could escalate into a full-blown war.
The Lebanese health ministry reported that among the casualties, 35 children and 58 women were killed, while 1,645 others sustained injuries. However, they did not clarify how many were civilians or combatants. Lebanese Health Minister Firass Abiad stated that thousands of families have been displaced due to the relentless bombardment.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed grave concern over the escalating violence, cautioning against Lebanon becoming “another Gaza.” The EU’s foreign affairs chief, Josep Borrell, labeled the situation “extremely dangerous,” while U.S. President Joe Biden announced efforts to de-escalate the situation, alongside the Pentagon’s decision to send additional troops to the region.
Cross-border violence between Israel and Hezbollah, initially sparked by the war in Gaza, has raged for almost a year, resulting in hundreds of deaths and displacing tens of thousands. Hezbollah has vowed to continue its actions in support of Hamas until a ceasefire is declared in Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged the people of Lebanon to evacuate areas near Hezbollah targets, accusing the group of using civilians as human shields. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reported targeting numerous combat infrastructures, with videos showing secondary explosions from hidden weapon caches.
In response to the strikes, Hezbollah fired a barrage of rockets targeting Israeli military bases and other facilities in northern Israel. As tension escalates, there is fear of the conflict intensifying into a ground invasion, with both sides showing no signs of backing down.
ALSO READ;Trump Admits He Won’t Run Again if He Faces Defeat in November
492 Dead as Israeli Air Strikes Escalate Lebanon Conflict