Israel-Hamas war: At least 180 killed, over 400 injured in Lebanon as Israel intensifies airstrikes 

Israel launched hundreds of airstrikes in southern and eastern Lebanon on Monday, killing more than 180 people, as the Israeli military urged residents to evacuate areas where Hezbollah stores weapons. Thousands of people fled southern Lebanon, clogging the main highway to Beirut. Over 400 people were injured in the strikes, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry.

The Israeli military reported hitting 300 Hezbollah-linked targets and expanded its operation to include the Bekaa Valley along Lebanon’s eastern border. Photos shared on social media by residents in southern Lebanon showed their towns under attack, reports the Associated Press.

The escalation followed Hezbollah firing over 100 rockets into northern Israel, with some reaching Haifa, in retaliation for an Israeli airstrike in Beirut that killed a senior Hezbollah commander and multiple civilians.

Last week, explosions of communications devices used by Hezbollah across Lebanon resulted in 39 deaths and over 3,000 injuries. While Lebanon blamed Israel, the Israeli government neither confirmed nor denied involvement.

The Lebanese Health Ministry said the death toll from Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon has reached 182, with 727 people wounded. Israeli airstrikes in Gaza over the last 24 hours killed 24 people and injured 60, bringing the total death toll in Gaza since October 7 to 41,455, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

Hezbollah Retaliation

Hezbollah launched over 100 rockets into northern Israel, responding to Israeli airstrikes that killed key Hezbollah figures. Thousands of southern Lebanese residents fled to northern regions, as Israel intensified airstrikes, marking the largest displacement since the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war.

Meanwhile, Israel has expanded its air campaign in Lebanon to target Hezbollah positions in the Bekaa Valley, calling on residents to evacuate homes where weapons are stored.

Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati called Israeli airstrikes a “genocide” and urged the UN to intervene. With the conflicts incleasing, China urged its citizens in Lebanon and Israel to evacuate or move to safer areas as the conflict escalates.