Death Toll Rises in Lebanon Amid Escalating Israeli Strikes

The Lebanese health ministry reports the death toll from recent Israeli airstrikes has reached 356, including 24 children. The strikes represent the deadliest clash since the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war. Thousands flee southern Lebanon as the Israeli military expands its campaign against Hezbollah.

The Lebanese health ministry has confirmed that the death toll from Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon on Monday has surged to 356, with 24 children among the casualties. This attack marks the deadliest confrontation since the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war, as the Israeli military issued evacuation warnings to residents in southern and eastern Lebanon.

In response, thousands of Lebanese citizens have fled the southern region, resulting in a massive traffic jam on the main highway from Sidon to Beirut. This represents the largest mass exodus since 2006. The health ministry added that over 1,240 individuals were wounded in the strikes, noting the unusually high number of injuries in just one day. Lebanon is still grappling with the aftermath of a recent attack on communication infrastructure.

Monday's death toll exceeded the fatalities from Beirut's 2020 port explosion, a catastrophic event that saw hundreds of tons of ammonium nitrate detonate, killing at least 218 people and injuring more than 6,000.