Israeli bombing of Lebanon. Photo: Hussein Malla / AP/Profimedia
On Monday evening, the Israeli Air Force launched a large-scale bombing campaign in Lebanon’s Beqaa Valley, targeting pro-Iranian Hezbollah positions in the south of the country. According to reports from AFP and BBC, the death toll has already reached at least 274, including 39 women and 21 children.
The Israeli military claims it successfully struck approximately 800 Hezbollah-related targets, including rocket launchers and weapons depots in Lebanon. One of the targets was a site near Beirut, where high-ranking Hezbollah commander Ali Karaki, responsible for the southern front, was allegedly located. His current fate remains unknown.
Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati strongly condemned Israel’s actions, describing them as a “plan to destroy” his country. Hospitals in southern and eastern Lebanon have been placed on high alert as the number of injured exceeded one thousand following the Israeli bombings on Monday. In total, more than 5,000 people are currently being treated in Lebanese hospitals, including victims of last week’s explosions of communication devices—pagers and radios—remotely detonated during two operations attributed to Israel.
On Monday, the Lebanese government fully activated its national emergency plan to assist the large number of displaced people in the south and east of the country, following the massive Israeli strikes.
In a video address, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged the people of Lebanon to “stay away from dangerous areas,” assuring them that they would be able to return once Israel’s operation is complete.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah announced it had launched rockets into northern Israel, claiming they hit an Israeli military base.
