Israeli Airstrikes in Lebanon Leave 356 Dead, Including Women and Children
BEIRUT — The death toll from Monday’s devastating Israeli airstrikes on southern and eastern Lebanon has tragically risen to 356, with women and children among the casualties, as reported by the Lebanese Health Ministry.
Heartbreakingly, the victims include 42 women and 24 children, with an additional 1,246 individuals reported as injured in the merciless attacks.
Health Minister Firas Abiad has highlighted the dire situation, noting that the airstrikes have forced thousands of terrified residents, especially those living near the border, to flee towards the safety of northern Lebanon.
In response to the crisis, Lebanese authorities have taken swift action by opening schools and other facilities to provide shelter and support to the civilians displaced by the airstrikes.
Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi has issued clear instructions to governors to ensure seamless cooperation in facilitating the mass evacuation from the heavily impacted southern regions.
The Israeli army, on the other hand, has defended its actions by claiming to have targeted over 1,100 Hezbollah sites in the past 24 hours alone. This aggressive operation involved the use of more than 1,400 munitions in approximately 650 sorties conducted over Lebanese territory.
Amidst the ongoing conflict, Hezbollah and Israel have been locked in a deadly cycle of cross-border warfare since the inception of the Israeli offensive in Gaza. The toll of this prolonged violence has been devastating, with over 41,400 lives lost, predominantly among women and children, following a cross-border attack by Hamas on October 7.
The international community has raised grave concerns over the escalating situation in Lebanon, warning that the airstrikes could potentially fuel a regional crisis that may further intensify the conflict in Gaza. — Agencies
