Israeli airstrikes kill hundreds in Lebanon: Maps show escalation of Hezbollah conflict
This story was updated to add new information.
Israeli airstrikes have killed nearly 500 people and injured more than 1,600 in Lebanon in what the country's health ministry calls the deadliest day since the country's 1990 civil war. These casualty numbers, provided by Lebanon's health ministry, add to the 37 killed and thousands injured last week as pagers and walkie-talkie exploded across Lebanon, an event largely believed to be an Israeli operation aimed against Hezbollah members.
Tens of thousands of people have been displaced from their homes on both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border since the Oct. 7th Hamas raid in Israel and the subsequent exchange of attacks by Israel and Hezbollah.
Here's a closer look at recent hostilities in the region:
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The Pentagon announced Monday that it is sending an undisclosed number of additional forces to the Middle East as tensions between Israel and Hezbollah escalate. These troops will join approximately 40,000 U.S. forces in the region.
Where did recent Israeli airstrikes hit in Lebanon?
On Monday, Israel struck Lebanon with a large series of airstrikes from the shared southern border up to its northern border with Syria. Israeli aircraft reportedly hit towns close to the eastern Bekaa Valley and northern Hermel, according to a TV station affiliated with Hezbollah. Social media users shared a video of dense smoke plumes billowing over buildings.
The Lebanese health minister stated in a press briefing that the death toll had quickly increased to more than 270, including 21 children and 31 women. In all, 1,024 people were hurt. Israel's military claims it struck more than 300 Hezbollah targets.
More: Top Hezbollah commander among those killed in Israeli strike on Lebanon | The Excerpt
Where did Hezbollah militants launch their attack on Israel?
Hezbollah started its latest missile attacks against Israel on Sept. 21-22. The attacks align with the recent declaration made by Hassan Nasrallah, Secretary General of Hezbollah, that the group will persist in its cross-border assaults in aid of Hamas within the Gaza Strip, according to the Guardian.
In the past week, attacks have reached the furthest to date into each country since Hamas' surprise attack on Israel last October triggered the largest escalation in the Israel-Hamas conflict in decades.
More: Israeli airstrikes on Hezbollah in Lebanon escalate in most widespread attack since Oct. 7
CONTRIBUTING Cybele Mayes-Osterman, Tom Vanden Brook and Taylor Wilson
SOURCE Institute for the Study of War,