At least 394 people have perished and 1,130 others suffered injuries in the ongoing Israeli military campaign on Lebanon. The country’s health minister announced these figures during a Sunday press conference.
Rakan Nassereddine detailed grim statistics: forty-two women and eighty-three children tragically lost their lives amidst the conflict. Moreover, the injured included two hundred and seventy-four women and two hundred and fifty-four children.
Israel escalated its military operations in Lebanon since Monday, following initial rocket fire by Hezbollah amid broader regional tensions surrounding Israel’s war with Iran.
Despite a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah dating back to November 2024, Israel has persisted with daily incursions that have resulted in hundreds of deaths and injuries. Over the past year, Israeli forces have already killed over 4,000 people and injured more than 17,000 during their offensive.
Lebanon was drawn into this broader Middle Eastern conflict when Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel on Monday, prompting a new military campaign by Israeli forces. The fallout has left nearly three hundred Lebanese dead and forced hundreds of thousands to flee their homes.
In southern Beirut’s southern suburbs, buildings were flattened in heaps of smoking rubble and twisted metal following an attack. Elsewhere, in Nabi Chit town, east of the city, heavy Israeli bombardment had created craters in the ground, burying cars under mounds of dirt and vehicles atop two-story buildings.
Air raid sirens throughout Israel warned civilians to seek shelter from incoming rockets and drones. This scenario has left many residents living in fear.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized the Lebanese government’s responsibility to disarm Hezbollah, warning that failure could result in “disastrous repercussions.” He stated, “It is time for you to take your destiny into your own hands,” adding Israel would do everything necessary to protect its communities and citizens. Defense Minister Israel Katz echoed this sentiment, asserting that all of Lebanon, including the Lebanese government, would face severe consequences if Hezbollah remains armed.
Meanwhile, in response to Israeli operations near Nabi Chit’s eastern Bekaa Valley, Israeli military officials deployed troops with helicopters last night, aiming to locate missing Ron Arad, an Israeli air force navigator from 1986. Despite their efforts, no findings related to him were recovered.
This conflict continues to devastate Lebanon’s population and forces significant internal divisions. While the Lebanese government has attempted to establish control over arms distribution, Hezbollah’s refusal to surrender its arsenal complicates matters further. As both sides grapple with these challenges, the humanitarian crisis in Lebanon escalates daily.