Lebanon shaken by Israeli attack, death toll reaches 492; 1600 places destroyed

Israel-Hezbollah War: The death toll in the Israeli army attack in Lebanon on Monday has reached 492, including more than 90 women and children. The number of children in this tragedy is only 35, while the number of injured is reported to be 1,645. This attack is considered to be the most horrific attack since the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war. Along with a large-scale air strike against Hezbollah, the Israeli army also warned the residents of southern and eastern Lebanon to vacate the place, after which thousands of Lebanese citizens were forced to flee.

Exodus of civilians and humanitarian crisis

To escape the horror of the attack, a large number of people started fleeing from southern Lebanon towards Beirut, causing a jam on the main highway passing through the southern port city of Sidon. This exodus was the largest exodus since 2006, when there was a war between Israel and Hezbollah.

According to the Lebanese Health Ministry, 35 children and 58 women were among those killed. The country had not yet recovered from the attack on communications equipment last week when this attack took place. This attack has proved to be more deadly than the explosion at the port of Beirut in 2020. 218 people were killed in the 2020 incident, while this time the death toll is much higher than that.

Netanyahu's message

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a recorded message, urged Lebanese citizens to evacuate the areas for their safety. He warned, "Please move away from danger now. You can safely return to your homes after our operation is over." Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagar, giving details about the attack, said that this operation is being carried out with the aim of driving Hezbollah out of the Lebanon-Israel border. Hagar said Israel would try to end the operation as soon as possible so that stability could be restored in the region.

Hezbollah's counter-attack

Hezbollah has so far fired nearly 9,000 rockets and drones in retaliation against Israel. On Monday alone, 250 rocket and drone attacks were carried out. The Israeli military said its warplanes attacked 1,600 Hezbollah targets, destroying rockets, cruise missiles, and drones. Many Hezbollah fighters were hiding in residential areas, which led to attacks on civilian areas as well.

Conclusion

This attack is a sign of another deep crisis for Lebanon. The growing tension between Israel and Hezbollah is not only affecting the citizens of both countries, but it can also have a serious impact on regional stability. In such a situation, the role of the international community and the need for humanitarian assistance increases more than ever before, so that the lives of innocent civilians trapped in this conflict can be saved and they can be provided relief.