Bloodshed in Beirut: Israel’s Devastating Airstrike Leaves Lebanon Reeling with Nearly 500 Dead
Lebanon Crisis: Death Toll Rises to 492 Amid Israeli Airstrikes
The Lebanese Ministry of Health reported 492 fatalities and over 1,600 injuries following Israel’s unprecedented air campaign against Hezbollah targets.
Over 2,000 Casualties Reported
The Lebanese Ministry of Health confirmed that as of September 23, the death toll from Israeli airstrikes had risen to 492, including 35 children and 58 women. At least 1,645 people were injured, making it one of the deadliest days in Lebanon since the 1975-1990 civil war.
Tania Baban, head of the non-governmental organization MedGlobal in Lebanon, stated that the country’s health system is overwhelmed due to the rapid increase in casualties in recent days. The health care system has been struggling in recent years following the Covid-19 crisis and the Beirut port explosion in August 2020.
Shelter facilities are also a major concern in Lebanon amid the large-scale displacement. Many schools have been closed to serve as temporary shelters for people, with tens of thousands of people in southern Lebanon displaced.
Israel Airstrikes 1,300 Targets, Leaving Ground Attack Open
The Israeli military reported that it had struck 1,300 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, with the operation still ongoing. This could be considered Israel’s largest ever air strike against Hezbollah.
Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari stated that among these targets were a warehouse of cruise missiles with a range of hundreds of kilometers and medium-range rockets with a range of up to 200 kilometers. Hagari emphasized that these are strategic weapons that Hezbollah places in the center of villages, in civilian homes, and from there they intend to launch them and harm the Israeli people.
Hagari added that Israel did not rule out launching a ground offensive into Lebanon. The Israeli Ministry of Defense announced that the war with Hezbollah is entering a new phase, and the country’s army will focus resources on the northern border with Lebanon.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged the Lebanese people to “move away from danger” and stated that Israel was not at war with them but with Hezbollah. Before launching a large-scale offensive on September 23, the Israeli military sent text messages advising Lebanese people to stay away from places where Hezbollah might store weapons.