Israel Kills Hundreds in Bombardment of Lebanon, Thousands Injured
September 23, 2024
Christopher Alam | Al Enteshar Newspaper
Smoke rises from Israeli shelling on villages in the Nabatiyeh district, seen from the southern town of Marjayoun, Lebanon, Monday, September 23, 2024 (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
Israeli airstrikes on Southern Lebanon early Monday claimed the lives of 492 people and injured thousands, in what Lebanese officials describe as the deadliest attack on the country since the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war. Among the casualties, Lebanon’s Ministry of Health reported that 58 women and 35 children were killed. Strikes targeted hospitals, ambulances, and even reached as far as Byblos, over 80 miles north of Beirut.
The bombardment, which primarily focused on Southern Lebanon, continued throughout the day, hitting more than 25 towns, according to reports from Lebanese media outlets. LBC identified several of the affected areas, including Ain Qana, Kfar Fila, Bouslaiya, Rachaf, and Naqoura. By the afternoon, the major city of Tyre had also been struck, and Israeli drones targeted vehicles in Khiam and the Aalman area. Witnesses told Alenteshar that villages near Bint Jbeil, such as Ain Ebel, were also hit.
In retaliation, Hezbollah launched dozens of rockets at Israeli military posts in Galilee and targeted the facilities of the Rafael defense firm in Haifa for the second consecutive day. Despite Israeli claims of hitting 1,300 Hezbollah targets, including senior leadership, Hezbollah stated that one of their leaders, Ali Karaki, survived the strikes unharmed.
Lebanese officials, responding to the escalating violence, took immediate steps to safeguard civilians. Education Minister Abbas Halabi announced a nationwide suspension of classes for at least a week, affecting both public and private institutions, including the Lebanese University. Businesses across Beirut also began suspending operations, urging employees to remain home.
The Israeli airstrikes came hours after the Israeli military sent mass evacuation orders to residents across Lebanon, instructing them to move north, away from Hezbollah-controlled areas. Many Lebanese reported receiving anonymous calls and text messages, warning them to flee. Lebanon’s telecommunications operator, Ogero, reported over 80,000 suspected Israeli call attempts advising residents to leave their homes.
Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari released a video justifying the strikes, stating that Hezbollah arms were stored in residential areas. Hagari further indicated that Israel was prepared to escalate the conflict with a ground invasion if necessary. Israel’s last ground invasion of Lebanon in 2006 resulted in a month-long conflict with Hezbollah that ended in a stalemate, later criticized as a failure by Israel’s Winograd Commission.
This latest assault is part of a broader, deadly escalation over the past week. On Tuesday and Wednesday, a series of booby-trapped pagers and walkie-talkies exploded across Lebanon, killing 39 people and injuring thousands more. On Friday, Israel conducted what it called a “precise strike” on an apartment building in Beirut’s densely populated Dahye suburb, killing 45 people, including several children. Although Israel claimed the target was high-ranking Hezbollah leaders, the attack resulted in significant civilian casualties.
The ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, which reignited last October after Hezbollah coordinated with Hamas fighters in a surprise attack on Israel, has seen both sides engage in nearly 7,500 cross-border skirmishes. Data from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (Acled) reveals that Israel has carried out five times more strikes than Hezbollah, despite claims from Israeli leadership that the operations are defensive in nature.
As the threat of a broader regional war looms, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced that Israel is entering a “new phase” of the conflict, with an increased focus on northern Lebanon. U.S. President Joe Biden called for de-escalation, emphasizing the need for civilians to return to safety. Meanwhile, the Pentagon announced plans to deploy additional U.S. troops to the Middle East, though details on the number of personnel and their specific mission remain unclear. According to AP, U.S. officials say there are currently about 40,000 soldiers stationed in the region.
Simultaneously, Israel continues its bombardment of Gaza, where 24 more people were killed today, bringing the total death toll in Gaza to 41,455, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Over 60 others were injured in the latest round of strikes.
The intensifying conflict has left Lebanon reeling from its heaviest losses in years, raising fears that the region could spiral further into war.
