Israel on Monday said that it has struck 300 targets in Lebanon in a move to step up pressure against the Hezbollah militant group. The Israeli military said that the strikes were targeted in south and east Lebanon and warned of more strikes in the coming days.
The Lebanese Health Ministry said 50 people have been killed and 300 other injured in the attacks, making it one of the deadliest attacks on Lebanon since the Israel-Gaza conflict started in October last year. Around 150 people have been killed in Lebanon, mostly civilians in the last seven days.
The Israeli air strikes targeted several towns, including Bint Jbeil, Aitaroun, Majdal Selem, Hula, Toura, Qlaileh, Haris, Nabi Chit, Tarayya, Shmestar, Harbata, Libbaya and Sohmor, according to a report in Al Jazeera.
The Israel military, in a post on X, shared a photo of its military chief Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, approving additional attacks from military headquarters in Tel Aviv.
“We are deepening our attacks in Lebanon, the actions will continue until we achieve our goal to return the northern residents safely to their homes,” Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said in a video published by his office on Monday.
The Israeli army warned Lebanese to ‘move away’ from Hezbollah sites and said it will launch more ‘extensive, precise strikes’ in Lebanon.
The Chief of the General Staff approves strikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon from the IDF Headquarters Underground Operations Center. So far, more than 300 Hezbollah targets have been struck today. pic.twitter.com/hbNKWJ8QAs
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) September 23, 2024
The latest attack is the most intense barrage of airstrikes in around one year of sporadic incidents of violence between the two countries.
An AFP report quoting Lebanese official media said that Israel has issued phone warnings to the Lebanese citizens to evacuate.
Halevi and other Israeli leaders have promised tougher action against Hezbollah in the coming days.
