Israeli airstrikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon killed more than 300 people and injured over 1,000 on Monday (23), according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health. It was the deadliest day of Israeli attacks in the country since at least 2006, when Israel waged a war against the group.
The Israeli military stated that since Monday morning, its fighter jets have struck more than 800 targets that they claimed were affiliated with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley. Major roads to Beirut, the capital, were congested with people fleeing the area.
As Israeli warplanes flew over Lebanon, about 165 rockets and other munitions crossed into Israeli territory, according to the Israeli military. Most of the attacks were intercepted by Israel’s missile defense system, and there were no reports of deaths or serious injuries.
Hezbollah has been firing rockets and drones at Israel since last October in support of its ally, Hamas, prompting Israeli counterattacks. But Israel has dramatically intensified its attacks on Hezbollah over the past week, raising fears that the low-intensity fighting could escalate into a large-scale war involving ground troops.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the Israeli public to expect “complicated days.” Lebanese authorities reported that women and children were among the victims of Monday’s Israeli attacks, but did not specify how many of the dead were Hezbollah militants.
Monday’s attacks were the latest attempt by Israel to destabilize the group, following covert operations last week that detonated Hezbollah’s wireless devices, killing 37 people and injuring thousands. But so far, Israel has not succeeded in forcing Hezbollah to retreat.
The group’s deputy chief vowed on Sunday to continue attacking until Israel ends its military campaign against Hamas in Gaza.
Source: The New York Times