Israeli airstrikes targeted hundreds of Hezbollah sites in Lebanon on Monday, resulting in the deaths of at least 274 people and injuring over 1,000, according to Lebanese health authorities. This makes it the deadliest day in Lebanon since the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war.
The Israeli military, known as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), launched over 800 strikes against Hezbollah targets in southern and eastern Lebanon, according to reports from both Israeli and Lebanese sources. The attacks concentrated on Hezbollah’s infrastructure and equipment, hitting areas near civilian homes, schools, and other public structures. The strikes came amid heavy cross-border exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and the IDF, which have intensified over recent weeks.
Insane Footage showing several of this morning’s Israeli Airstrikes against Hezbollah Sites within and around the Town of Ankoun, in the Sidon District of Southern Lebanon. pic.twitter.com/NVCGUjS0PP
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) September 23, 2024
Guys this is no small air campaign pic.twitter.com/iJnxQN8S0q
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) September 23, 2024
The IDF has sent warning to civilians to evacuate southern Lebanon, including the Beqaa Valley, which has led to thousands fleeing their homes. The Beqaa Valley, a region populated by over 500,000 people, witnessed a mass exodus as residents sought safety, with the main highway from Sidon to Beirut jammed with vehicles. This marked the largest movement of civilians since the 2006 conflict.Â
Massive Traffic Jams within the City of Sidon in Southwestern Lebanon, as Residents appears to be Fleeing the City and other Communities in the South. pic.twitter.com/WcFIuoPw7I
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) September 23, 2024
Lebanese Health Minister Firass Abiad reported that the strikes killed 274 people, including 21 children and 39 women, and injured 1,024 others. Abiad stated that these were “unprecedented numbers,” surpassing the toll from Beirut’s 2020 port explosion, which killed 218 people. The minister emphasized that the strikes also hit hospitals, medical centers, and ambulances, further straining Lebanon’s already fragile healthcare system.
Over the past six days, nearly 5,000 people have been wounded due to escalating hostilities in Lebanon. Many of these injuries stemmed from incidents such as last week’s attack on communication devices used by Hezbollah, which exploded, causing widespread casualties. The Lebanese government has since ordered schools and universities to close, and emergency shelters are being prepared for the thousands displaced by the ongoing conflict.
Iran condemned the Israeli airstrikes, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani describing them as “crazy” and warning of “dangerous consequences” for Israel’s actions. Kanaani criticized the United States for its support of Israel, accusing it of complicity in what he termed “crimes” in Palestinian territories and Lebanon. He urged the United Nations Security Council to intervene and stop what he characterized as a “serious threat to regional and international peace and security.”
IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari stated that the Israeli military’s actions aimed to minimize harm to Lebanese civilians as much as possible. However, he emphasized that the strikes would continue to target Hezbollah’s military infrastructure, even in areas adjacent to civilian structures. In the press video, RAdm. Daniel Hagari showcased how Hezbollah utilizes civilian infrastructure to hide and launch cruise missiles, and how the IDF plans on dismantling these caches.
IDF Spokesperson RAdm. Daniel Hagari exposing Hezbollah’s way of firing missiles from civilian homes, and how the IDF plans on dismantling it: pic.twitter.com/smkfjv6VDh
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) September 23, 2024
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