Lebanon attack: Israel plans to intensify attacks on Beirut after deadly airstrike kills more than 356 including children

Jerusalem: Israel launched its largest airstrikes in Lebanon since the onset of the Israel-Palestine conflict, killing not lower than 356 people and injuring over 1,246 others, the Lebanese Health Ministry has said. The death toll from the Israeli airstrikes on Monday included 24 formative years and forty two women folk, with many victims still unidentified, Xinhua news agency reported, citing Lebanese health officials. Israel’s sweeping airstrikes across Lebanon have raised the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah to a brand new peak.

This most up-to-date surge in hostilities comes on the heels of last week’s mysterious explosions concentrated on pagers and walkie-talkies during Lebanon, which left several dead and a nation on edge. The rapid succession of events has catapulted the long-simmering tensions to unheard of levels, raising fears of a broader regional conflagration. Herzi Halevi, Israel’s defense force chief, announced on Monday evening that the us of a became preparing for “the following phases” of its defense force operation, because the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) targeted approximately 1,100 web sites in southern and eastern Lebanon.

“This morning, the IDF launched a proactive offensive operation,” Halevi said during a situational assessment on the IDF Headquarters Underground Operations Center in Tel Aviv.

“We're concentrated on combat infrastructure that Hezbollah has been building for the past two decades,” Halevi noted, adding, “We're striking targets and preparing for the following phases.” Also on Monday, Israeli airstrikes in Beirut targeted Ali Karki, a senior Hezbollah commander, who became referred to as by Israeli media the “last deputy” of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Hezbollah later said he became “in full health and has moved to a safe place.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel became acting to alter the “security balance” in the north. He also issued a stark warning to Nasrallah during a security assessment meeting on Monday, stating that “individuals are in the crosshairs.”

The strikes have brought about widespread destruction and displacement in Lebanon, with residents fleeing from cities akin to Tyre, Nabatieh, and Iqlim al-Tuffah towards Beirut and Mount Lebanon. Syrian media reported a massive movement of people fleeing from Lebanon into Syria on the Syrian-Lebanese border. Jordan’s Civil Aviation Regulatory Commission announced that it has suspended flights of Jordanian airlines to Beirut until similarly notice, citing increasing regional tensions and the make sure safety and security in civil aviation.

According to the Israeli attacks, Hezbollah fired over 180 rockets toward northern Israel during Monday, the Israeli defense force reported. Israel’s aerial defence systems intercepted some projectiles, while others fell within Israeli territory, causing fires. The Magen David Adom rescue service reported that five people were injured by shrapnel. Hezbollah said in an announcement that it had bombed several Israeli defense force targets, including the reserve headquarters of the Israeli army’s northern corps and Rafael’s defense force-industrial complexes north of Haifa, “with dozens of missiles.”

Defence Minister Yoav Gallant urged the public to remain calm in anticipation of potential escalated attacks by Hezbollah in the coming days. “These are days wherein the Israeli public will must point composure,” he noted in a video statement. The Israeli Defence Ministry also announced a “special” security situation across the total us of a on Monday night, amid concerns that Hezbollah would per chance broaden the kind of its retaliatory attacks. The attacks have prompted condemnations from both regional and international communities.

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati condemned the Israeli attacks, describing them as “a war of extermination” during a cupboard meeting. He referred to as on the United Nations and the international community to “stand up and deter aggression.” The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also condemned the Israeli attacks, describing them as a “flagrant violation of international law” and a threat to regional stability driven by the “far-right goals of the Israeli government”.

Egypt on Monday condemned Israel’s attacks on Lebanon, warning that its defense force escalation will handiest aggravate the crisis. In an announcement, the Egyptian foreign ministry urged international powers and the UN Security Council to intervene to stop Israel’s escalation in the region.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani warned of the intense consequences of Israel’s “bids to expand the conflict in the total West Asia region”, while the Turkish Foreign Ministry stated that the attacks “mark a brand new phase in Israel’s efforts to pull the total region into chaos”. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed “grave alarm” over the escalating tensions in the region and voiced serious concern for the protection of civilians, including UN personnel. He urged immediate de-escalation and a diplomatic solution to the crisis.