492 Killed in Lebanon in Israeli Strikes; Hezbollah Fires 200 Rockets in Reply

Israeli attacks on Hezbollah targets in Lebabon on Monday claimed at least 492 lives, making it the deadliest day in cross-border warfare since 2006. The Israeli military struck 1,600 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon.

In retaliation, Hezbollah, the Lebanese terrorist group fired nearly 200 rockets into northern Israel overnight. The Iran-backed group said, the rockets targeted several Israeli military bases and airfields.

Several countries called for restraint by both sides as the ongoing Israel-Hezbollah conflict can trigger an all-out war in the region as the Gaza conflict that erupted on October 7 still continues.

Following the Israeli strike, thousands of people fled from towns and villages in southern Lebanon towards the capital, Beirut.

According to the Lebanese health ministry, 492 people, including dozens of women and children, died and 1,645 others were injured in the Israeli strikes on Hezbollah targets.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said most of the rockets fired by Hezbollah were intercepted by its Iron Dome defence system and that no casualties or damages were reported.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country’s military was preparing for the “next phases” in Lebanon, adding he would elaborate on the same later.

Earlier on Monday, the Israeli military had warned people in Beirut and other parts of Lebanon via a phone call to leave their homes and distance themselves from any buildings having Hezbollah weapons. Israel’s evacuation order came after hundreds of Hezbollah’s pagers and walkie-talkies exploded across Lebanon last week.