Tens of thousands of people fled southern Lebanon as Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon killed at least 558 people and injured more than 1,800, marking the deadliest escalation since the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah.
At least 558 people, including 50 children and several women, have been killed and 1,835 wounded in Israel’s fierce bombardment of various parts of Lebanon, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.
Israeli airstrikes hit multiple locations, including residential areas in the south and the eastern Bekaa Valley. One strike even reached Byblos, located over 80 miles north of Beirut
Health Minister Firass Abiad confirmed that earlier strikes had targeted hospitals, medical centers, and ambulances. In response, the government ordered the closure of schools and universities and is preparing shelters for displaced families.
The staggering toll came as the country continued to recover from a devastating attack on its communication infrastructure last week. Thousands of communications devices, used mainly by Hezbollah members, exploded in different parts of Lebanon, killing 39 people and wounding nearly 3,000. Lebanon and Hezbollah blamed the attacks on Israel.
Mass migration from Southern Lebanon
The airstrikes triggered a mass migration from southern Lebanon, with thousands of residents fleeing the region. The main highway leading out of the port city of Sidon was clogged with vehicles heading toward Beirut, resembling the large-scale displacement witnessed during the 2006 conflict.
Evacuation warnings from Israel
In anticipation of an intensified air campaign against Hezbollah, the Israeli military issued evacuation warnings to residents in southern and eastern Lebanon.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a recorded message, urged civilians to evacuate immediately.
“Please get out of harm’s way now,” he said. “Once our operation is finished, you can come back safely to your homes.”
Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, Israel’s military spokesman, stated that Monday’s airstrikes had severely weakened Hezbollah, although no timeline for the operation was provided. He added that Israel is prepared for a possible ground invasion if necessary.
According to Hagari, Hezbollah has launched approximately 9,000 rockets and drones into Israel since October, with 250 attacks occurring on September 23rd alone.
Future operations against Hezbollah
The Israeli military announced the expansion of its campaign to target the Bekaa Valley near Lebanon’s eastern border with Syria.
Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, Israel’s military chief, announced that the army is preparing for the “next phases” of operations against Hezbollah, describing the airstrikes as “proactive” measures aimed at dismantling Hezbollah’s infrastructure, built over the last two decades.
Hezbollah, founded in 1982 with the backing of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, has long had a strong presence in the Bekaa Valley, a strategic region for the group.
World reacts to Israel’s strikes on Lebanon
World leaders are sounding the alarm about a “full-fledged” war, calling for de-escalation after devastating Israeli air strikes in Lebanon.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the opening of the annual United Nations General Assembly, “We should all be alarmed by the escalation. Lebanon is at the brink. The people of Lebanon, the people of Israel and the people of the world cannot afford Lebanon to become another Gaza,” where Israel and Hamas militants have been fighting for nearly a year.
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi said China firmly backs Lebanon in safeguarding its sovereignty and strongly condemned Israel’s attacks.
“We pay close attention to developments in the region, especially the recent explosion of communications equipment in Lebanon, and firmly oppose indiscriminate attacks against civilians,” Wang told his Lebanese counterpart, Abdallah Bou Habib. Wang said China would stand on the “side of justice and on the side of Arab brothers, including Lebanon”, according to the statement.
Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi urged for a global response to de-escalate the conflict, accusing Israel of “aggression”. He said: “We stress the urgent need for the [UN] Security Council to take immediate action to curb Israeli aggression”.
Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on the UNSC to intervene and denounced any “violations of Lebanon’s sovereignty”. Egypt, which is a key mediator between Israel and Hamas, has repeatedly warned against a regional escalation, which it said: “threatens to drag the region into a comprehensive regional war”.
Turkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned Israel’s attacks on Lebanon and also said last week’s cyber terror attacks in Lebanon showed how technologies can be transformed into deadly weapons. “In an environment where UN Security Council resolutions are not implemented, coercive measures should be taken against Israel,” Erdogan said. “Just as 70 years ago Hitler was stopped by an alliance of humanity, Netanyahu and his murderous network must also be stopped by alliance of humanity,” he added.
France said strikes on both sides of the border should “immediately end” and called for an emergency UNSC meeting to address the conflict. “I’m thinking of the Lebanese people as Israeli strikes have just killed hundreds of civilians, including dozens of children,” said Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot. “These strikes conducted on both sides of the Blue Line, and in the region more broadly, must immediately end.”