Deadliest day of Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon kills 492, including 35 children

Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon killed at least 492 people on Monday, including 35 children, according to the Lebanese health ministry. The strikes mark the deadliest day of cross-border violence since the outbreak of the Gaza war, sparking widespread condemnation from Arab states and escalating tensions with Hezbollah to levels unseen in nearly a year.

The violence follows the unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas and other Palestinian militants, which drew Hezbollah and other Iran-backed groups into the conflict. In response, Israel launched a series of strikes targeting Hezbollah strongholds across southern and eastern Lebanon.

Lebanon’s health ministry reported that, in addition to the 492 killed, the strikes injured 1,645 others. Among the dead were 58 women and 35 children, as the attacks ravaged civilian areas, displacing thousands of families. Explosions near the ancient city of Baalbek sent smoke billowing across the eastern region of the country.

“This is the most difficult week for Hezbollah since its establishment,” said Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, calling Monday a “significant peak” in Israel’s military operations. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) said the strikes hit 1,600 targets as part of “Operation Northern Arrows,” which included a strike in Beirut that was reported to target Hezbollah’s third-in-command, Ali Karake, although Hezbollah later denied that he was killed.

The international community has expressed growing concern over the rising death toll. Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati urged the United Nations and world powers to step in and halt what he described as Israel’s “plan to destroy Lebanese villages and towns.”

Meanwhile, Hezbollah vowed to continue retaliatory strikes, launching rockets at Israeli military sites near Haifa in response to the Israeli bombardments in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley. As tensions rise, global leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden, have called for de-escalation to prevent a full-blown regional conflict.

The airstrikes in Lebanon come as Israel continues its offensive against Hamas in Gaza, where the death toll has also climbed, with over 41,000 people killed, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The United Nations has described the civilian casualties in both Gaza and Lebanon as a grave concern and urged all parties to halt the violence.