Watch: Lebanon Death Toll Rises Amid Intensified Israeli Air Strikes
Tens of thousands of people are fleeing southern Lebanon amid Israeli airstrikes that have killed at least 569 people across Lebanon, according to the country’s Health Minister.
This number includes the death of 50 children while an additional 1,835 have been wounded in the Middle Eastern nation.
The conflict between Hezbollah and Israel escalated on Monday after Lebanon experienced its deadliest day in over two decades when around 500 people were killed. The two countries have entered the third day of air strikes, with southern Lebanon being mercilessly bombarded by Israel.
The last time there was a significant escalation in the conflict was in 2006 and it lasted 34 days and resulted in around 1,191 deaths in Lebanon.
These are some of the main updates from the last few days:
Earlier today, Israel intercepted a Hezbollah missile near Tel Aviv which was targeting the headquarters of Israel’s intelligence service Mossad. No casualties or damage have been reported.
Meanwhile, Local media has reported the killing of the fifth journalist in Lebanon by an airstrike since 7th October, his name was Kamel Karaki and he was a cameraman for Ak-Manar TV. On Monday, another journalist Hadi al-Sayed, who worked for the Lebanese TV channel Al Mayadeen, was killed when an air raid hit his home, according to Al Jazeera.
An Israeli airstrike killed one of Hezbollah’s senior commanders, Ibrahim Qubaisi, yesterday. Israeli officials said Qubaisi commanded various missile units and was killed alongside two other commanders in Beirut.
The Israeli military has vowed to speed up its offensive operations against Hezbollah without reprieve.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided to delay his trip to New York for the UN General Assembly due to the conflict’s escalation. He was set to fly today and speak tomorrow but he will now fly to New York on Thursday and speak on Friday.
The UN’s 79th General Assembly opened on Tuesday morning with different world leaders and key actors referencing the escalation in their addresses.
“Lebanon is at the brink. The people of Lebanon – the people of Israel – and the people of the world – cannot afford Lebanon to become another Gaza,” UN secretary general António Guterres said.
In US President Joe Biden’s address to the UN General Assembly, he acknowledged the escalation and said that a “diplomatic solution is still possible”.
Lebanon’s foreign minister Abdallah Bou Habib criticised Biden’s address as “not strong, not promising” and said the US was the only country “that can really make a difference in the Middle East and with regard to Lebanon.” The US is Israel’s biggest arms supplier.
Meanwhile foreign ministers of Egypt, Iraq and Jordan condemned Israel’s “aggression” against Lebanon, warning that it is “pushing the region towards all-out war”.
These attacks have not released the pressure off Gaza, with the death toll rising to a staggering 41,495, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
In the occupied West Bank, arrests of Palestinians continue to pile up as Israeli forces raid homes and refugee camps, according to local media reports.
Featured image on the left: @sahouraxo on X.
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