ReutersIsrael launched heavy air strikes in Lebanon, killing greater than 350 individuals and wounding 1,200, the nation’s well being minister mentioned, after Israel warned it was “intensifying” its assaults on the armed group Hezbollah.
The Israeli navy mentioned it had attacked greater than 800 Hezbollah targets and ordered civilians to evacuate areas close to the Iranian-backed group’s positions, with 1000’s additionally fleeing their properties.
After the assault, Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets into northern Israel. Israeli medical workers mentioned one particular person was injured by shrapnel.
It was the deadliest day in practically a yr of escalating cross-border combating, fueling fears of all-out struggle.
United Nations Secretary-Common António Guterres mentioned on Sunday he feared such a battle might flip Lebanon into “one other Gaza”.
The struggle in Gaza triggered eleven months of combating between Hezbollah and Israel, killing a whole bunch of individuals, largely Hezbollah fighters, and displacing tens of 1000’s on either side of the border.
Hezbollah says it’s taking motion to assist the Palestinian armed group Hamas and won’t cease till a ceasefire in Gaza. Each teams are backed by Iran and listed as terrorist organizations by Israel, Britain and different international locations.
The Pentagon mentioned it might ship a “small quantity” of extra U.S. troops to the Center East amid the rising disaster.
“Given heightened tensions within the Center East and out of an abundance of warning, we’re deploying a small variety of extra U.S. navy personnel to enhance our forces already within the area,” Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder mentioned throughout a briefing with reporters.
He wouldn’t reply any follow-up questions on particular particulars.
Lebanese media reported that Israeli warplanes launched the primary wave of assaults throughout the nation at round 06:30 (03:30 GMT) on Monday.
Dozens of areas had been focused within the southern areas of Sidon, Marjayoun, Nabatieh, Bint Jbeil, Tire, Jezzine and Zahrani, in addition to a number of districts within the japanese Bekaa Valley, the state-run Nationwide Information Company (NNA) reported.
Later, the state information company mentioned Israel intensified its assaults within the south and Bekaa Valley, inflicting casualties and widespread harm.
The Lebanese Well being Ministry mentioned late Monday that the assaults had killed 356 individuals and injured 1,246 others.
It didn’t report what number of civilians or combatants had been among the many casualties, however mentioned 24 youngsters and 42 ladies had been among the many lifeless.
Well being Minister Firas Abiad added that 1000’s of households had additionally been displaced by the strike.
There have been heavy site visitors jams on roads within the southern cities of Tire and Sidon as civilians fled from Israeli bombardment and Israeli navy information warned them to keep away from buildings and areas close to Hezbollah positions and weapons.
One man in Beirut mentioned he had withdrawn his son from faculty after receiving such a warning.
“They’re calling everybody and threatening individuals over the cellphone. So we’re right here to get my son out of faculty. The state of affairs is just not reassuring,” Issa advised Reuters.
Info Minister Ziad Makkari mentioned his division had been advised to evacuate buildings in Beirut however insisted it might not adjust to what he known as “psychological warfare”.
Inside Minister Bassam Maurawi mentioned colleges could be opened within the south and east, in Beirut and within the northern metropolis of Tripoli, as shelters for the displaced.
“Israel’s continued aggression in opposition to Lebanon is a struggle of extermination in each sense of the phrase,” Prime Minister Naguib Mikati advised a cupboard assembly.
“We as a authorities are working arduous to cease this new Israeli struggle and keep away from falling into the unknown,” he added.
ReutersThe Israel Protection Forces (IDF) mentioned in a press release on Monday afternoon that its plane carried out strikes on some 800 Hezbollah “terror targets” in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley.
Earlier, IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari advised a briefing that footage from southern Lebanon confirmed “Hezbollah weapons exploding inside homes.”
“Each home we hit contained weapons — rockets, missiles, drones — designed to kill Israeli civilians,” he claimed.
He additionally warned civilians that they need to instantly keep away from Hezbollah’s weapons and rocket depots “in your security and safety.”
Earlier, Protection Minister Yove Galant mentioned in a video that the Israeli military was “intensifying its assaults on Lebanon.” He added: “These operations will proceed till we obtain our aim of getting northern residents safely again house.”
In the meantime, a senior Israeli navy official insisted that the IDF was “solely targeted on Israeli air operations for now” after being requested by reporters about an imminent floor invasion of southern Lebanon.
The official mentioned Israel has three objectives: weaken Hezbollah’s means to launch rockets and missiles alongside the Lebanese-Israeli border, push its fighters again from the border, and destroy infrastructure constructed by Hezbollah’s elite Radwan forces that could possibly be used for assaults .
ReutersHezbollah has not commented on Israeli claims it had weapons hidden in homes, however the group mentioned in a press release that it had fired rockets at three Israeli navy bases in northern Israel in addition to an Israeli base in response to ” Assaults by Israel’s Enemies”. The weapons manufacturing facility is positioned within the coastal space of Zwulun, north of the port metropolis of Haifa.
The IDF mentioned not less than 125 artillery shells crossed the border from Lebanon, with an unknown quantity touchdown within the Decrease and Higher Galilee areas, in addition to within the areas of Carmel, Hamakim and Hami Fraz close to the coast, and Occupied Golan Heights.
A home was severely broken by rockets in Givat Avni, within the Decrease Galilee area.
Resident David Yitzhak advised the BBC that he, his spouse and six-year-old daughter had been unhurt as a result of they’d managed to cover behind the sturdy door of the home’s secure room when the alarm went off seconds earlier.
“It is just one meter from start to demise,” he mentioned.
The Israeli ambulance service mentioned it handled a 59-year-old man within the Decrease Galilee who suffered shrapnel wounds to his decrease limbs, whereas one other man was injured whereas speeding to a shelter.
On Sunday, Hezbollah fired greater than 150 rockets and drones throughout the border, whereas Israeli warplanes struck a whole bunch of targets in southern Lebanon.
Regardless of struggling a sequence of main setbacks final week, Hezbollah stays defiant.
Hundreds of pagers and walkie-talkies utilized by Hezbollah exploded on Tuesday and Wednesday, killing 39 individuals and injuring 1000’s extra. On Friday, Hezbollah mentioned an Israeli airstrike south of Beirut killed 45 individuals, together with not less than 16 members, together with the highest commander of its elite Radwan drive.
Talking at Sunday’s funeral, Hezbollah’s deputy chief Naeem Qasim mentioned the group wouldn’t be intimidated.
“We have now entered a brand new section,” he mentioned, “one whose title is an limitless battle of reckoning.”
