Israel Launches Airstrikes on Hezbollah Targets in Lebanon: 492 Dead, Thousands Flee
Israel’s military launched airstrikes on Hezbollah sites across Lebanon on Monday, resulting in 492 deaths and forcing tens of thousands to evacuate, making it the deadliest day for Lebanon in decades, according to Lebanese officials. Following intense cross-border exchanges since the conflict reignited in October, Israel warned Lebanese residents to evacuate areas suspected of housing Hezbollah weaponry.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the Lebanese people, emphasizing that Israel’s conflict is with Hezbollah, not civilians. “For too long, Hezbollah has used you as human shields,” he said in a video message.
Residents from southern Lebanon packed vehicles with belongings, fleeing as bombs fell. Highways heading north were congested as families sought refuge in Beirut. Many, like Abed Afou, left behind their homes with little more than important documents and the hope of reaching safety.
Lebanese Crisis Response Minister Nasser Yassin reported that 89 temporary shelters had been activated, accommodating over 26,000 people fleeing the violence.
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Israel’s focus has shifted to its northern frontier after nearly a year of war with Hamas in Gaza. The Israeli military targeted Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley, and the country’s north, hitting approximately 1,600 targets, including launch sites and command posts. Lebanon’s health ministry confirmed that 492 people, including 35 children, were killed, and 1,645 were wounded in the strikes.
The escalation has heightened concerns of a broader regional conflict, potentially involving Iran and the United States. Saudi Arabia urged all parties to exercise restraint, while a senior U.S. official expressed opposition to the escalation and emphasized the need to prevent the war from spreading.
Hezbollah has vowed to continue fighting until a ceasefire is declared in Gaza, while Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant described Monday as a “significant peak” in the conflict. Israeli forces claim to have neutralized a substantial portion of Hezbollah’s long-range weaponry.
The strikes have intensified pressure on Hezbollah, which suffered heavy losses last week in an incident involving the explosion of its communication devices, an act widely attributed to Israel. Meanwhile, the Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers have warned that the ongoing conflict could spiral into a wider war, urging for de-escalation to prevent further instability in the region.
