Deadly Escalation in Lebanon as Israeli Strikes Kill 274, including 21 Children
In the deadliest cross-border escalation since war erupted in Gaza on October 7, Israeli air strikes killed 274 people, including 21 children, in Lebanon on Monday, according to Lebanese Health Minister Firass Abiad. The Lebanese government has implored Israel and Hezbollah to pull back from the brink of all-out war, as the focus of violence has shifted sharply from Israel’s southern front with Gaza to its northern border with Lebanon.
The Israeli military has hit approximately 800 Hezbollah sites in southern and eastern Lebanon, and a targeted strike in Beirut targeted a senior Hezbollah operative. Hezbollah has retaliated by firing rockets at Israeli military sites near Haifa and announcing the launch of dozens of rockets at two Israeli bases.
The situation has caused widespread destruction and displacement, with thousands of families fleeing their homes and the education minister announcing schools in targeted areas will close for two days. The Israeli military has warned people in Lebanon to avoid potential targets linked to Hezbollah and has told residents in the Bekaa valley to flee their homes.
The international community has expressed concern over the escalating violence, with UN chief Antonio Guterres warning that Lebanon could become "another Gaza" and urging both sides to seek a ceasefire. US President Joe Biden has also urged restraint, saying his administration will do everything it can to prevent a wider war.
Hezbollah, a powerful political and military force in Lebanon, has exchanged near-daily fire with Israel in support of its Palestinian ally Hamas. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the country is acting to change the "security balance" in the north, while Hezbollah’s deputy chief, Naim Qassem, has said the group is in a "new phase" with Israel, ready for "all military possibilities."
As the situation continues to deteriorate, the international community is calling for a swift resolution to prevent further loss of life and destruction.
