Lebanon’s health ministry reported Monday that Israeli strikes on the southern region killed at least 182 people and wounded over 700, in what has become the deadliest escalation in nearly a year of clashes between Hezbollah and Israel. Among the casualties were children, women, and medical personnel, as Israel intensified its offensive on multiple areas in southern Lebanon.
Israeli forces issued warnings for civilians to vacate their homes and other buildings allegedly used by Hezbollah to store weapons. According to Lebanese officials, over 80,000 suspected evacuation calls were made to residents, which Imad Kreidieh, head of Lebanon’s telecoms company Ogero, described as “psychological warfare” aimed at causing panic.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned of “complicated days ahead” as the conflict edged closer to all-out war, further escalating after 11 months of confrontations. Netanyahu reiterated his promise to shift the balance of power in the region, stating that Israel is actively dismantling Hezbollah’s missile and rocket capabilities aimed at Israeli cities.
On Monday, the Israeli military announced it had struck 300 targets in Lebanon, marking one of the most severe barrages since the conflict began in October. In response to the widespread damage and displacement, Lebanon’s Home Ministry ordered schools in Beirut, Tripoli, and across southern and eastern regions to open as emergency shelters for fleeing civilians.
As tensions rise, Israel plans to expand its operations in Lebanon, with the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) advising civilians in 17 villages and towns near Hezbollah military installations to evacuate. A recent strike on Beirut targeted a building where senior Hezbollah commanders were meeting, signaling a further escalation in Israel’s efforts to weaken the Iran-backed militant group.
Israel’s operations, which now include both covert actions and wide-scale airstrikes, have increasingly targeted Hezbollah’s communication networks and key leadership, indicating a strategic shift aimed at crippling the group’s military infrastructure.
Key Notes:
Death Toll Rises: Lebanese health ministry reports 182 killed and over 700 wounded in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon.
Worst Escalation in a Year: This is the deadliest day in nearly a year of cross-border clashes between Hezbollah and Israel.
Civilians Targeted: Casualties include children, women, and medics as Israel intensifies its offensive.
Mass Evacuation Warnings: Over 80,000 suspected Israeli evacuation calls were made to Lebanese civilians, described by officials as “psychological warfare.”
Israeli Operations Expand: Israel struck 300 targets in Lebanon, with Prime Minister Netanyahu warning of “complicated days ahead.”
Schools Converted to Shelters: Lebanon’s government opens schools in major cities to house displaced civilians.
Targeting Hezbollah: Israeli forces are focusing on Hezbollah’s missile and rocket stockpiles, with evacuation orders issued for civilians near Hezbollah sites.
Beirut Strike: Israel targeted a Hezbollah command meeting in a rare airstrike on the Lebanese capital, escalating the conflict further.
