In a significant escalation, the Israeli military claimed it had launched airstrikes on 300 targets in Lebanon on Monday, marking one of the most intense offensives in nearly a year of conflict with Hezbollah.
According to Lebanon’s health ministry, the airstrikes resulted in 50 fatalities and 300 injuries.
Israel’s army shared the news on social media, including a photo of its military chief, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, authorizing further attacks from Tel Aviv headquarters.
Amid the offensive, air-raid sirens blared in northern Israel, warning of rockets from Lebanon, as Halevi and other leaders vowed harsher measures against Hezbollah in the coming days.
During the strikes, Israeli authorities sounded air-raid sirens in northern Israel, signaling incoming rocket fire from Lebanon.
Earlier on Monday, Israel had called for residents of southern Lebanon to evacuate areas where Hezbollah was reportedly storing weapons, warning of “extensive strikes” against the militant group.
This was the first warning of its kind in nearly a year of rising tensions and came after Sunday’s heavy exchange when Hezbollah launched around 150 rockets, missiles, and drones into northern Israel in response to strikes that killed a top commander and several fighters.
Heavy airstrikes continued to pound southern Lebanon Monday morning, as Hezbollah and Israel exchanged fire amid rising fears of a full-scale war.
The clashes come while Israel is also engaged in fighting Hamas in Gaza and working to free hostages taken during Hamas’ Oct. 7 assault.
Hezbollah pledged to escalate attacks in solidarity with Hamas, while Israel insisted on restoring calm along its northern border.
Airstrikes hit various areas, including forests in Byblos and regions in Baalbek and Hermel, where one civilian was killed and 30 others wounded.
Despite the strikes, there was no sign of mass evacuations from southern Lebanese villages, even after Israel’s warnings.
Lebanon’s National News Agency confirmed the attacks on central and northern areas, marking the first strikes so far north since the conflict reignited in October.
Meanwhile, Lebanon’s Health Ministry urged hospitals to delay non-urgent surgeries, ensuring readiness for more casualties from the escalating violence.
An Israeli military official, speaking anonymously, stated that Israel is concentrating on aerial strikes and has no immediate plans for a ground offensive. The goal, according to the official, is to reduce Hezbollah’s capability to launch attacks on Israel.
Lebanese media reported that residents received text messages advising them to leave buildings storing Hezbollah weapons. The messages, written in Arabic, urged people to relocate until further notice if they were near Hezbollah arms depots.
Lebanon’s information minister, Ziad Makary, acknowledged his office also received a similar recorded message but dismissed it as part of Israel’s “psychological warfare.” He encouraged the public to “not give the matter more attention than it deserves.”
Uncertainty surrounds the impact of Israeli directives on local populations, as communities on both sides of the border have mostly evacuated due to ongoing hostilities.
Israel alleges that Hezbollah has transformed southern communities into militant strongholds, potentially leading to intensified aerial bombardments without ground troop involvement.
The military reported targeting over 150 militant sites on Monday morning, with residents sharing images of airstrikes and smoke on social media. The state-run National News Agency also confirmed strikes in various regions.
Escalating Conflict Intensifies
An Israeli airstrike in a Beirut suburb on Friday resulted in the deaths of a high-ranking Hezbollah military commander and over a dozen fighters, alongside numerous civilians, including women and children.
In a separate incident last week, a series of communications devices, primarily used by Hezbollah members, detonated across Lebanon, killing 39 people and injuring nearly 3,000.
While Lebanon attributed these attacks to Israel, the Israeli government neither confirmed nor denied involvement.
Hezbollah began launching attacks into Israel shortly after the Hamas assault on October 7, which resulted in approximately 1,200 Israeli casualties and the abduction of around 250 individuals.
In retaliation, Israel has escalated airstrikes, leading to a significant rise in violence over the past year, resulting in hundreds of deaths in Lebanon and dozens in Israel, alongside the displacement of tens of thousands.
Israel has expressed its commitment to pushing Hezbollah away from the border, advocating for a diplomatic resolution but remaining open to military action if necessary.
Hezbollah has vowed to continue its assaults until a ceasefire is established in Gaza, a goal that seems increasingly unattainable as the conflict approaches its anniversary.
Israel’s offensive in Gaza has reportedly resulted in the deaths of over 41,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and fighters.
Women and children reportedly comprise just over half of the casualties. Israel claims to have killed over 17,000 militants but has not provided supporting evidence.
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