The conflict in Lebanon has reached a devastating new level as Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 492 people in a single day, with more than 1,600 reported injuries, according to authorities in Lebanon. Tens of thousands of people in southern Lebanon are fleeing their homes and heading north towards the capital Beirut as the violence escalates.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that the goal of the airstrikes is to change the “security balance” along the northern border. This comes as Hezbollah militia, backed by Iran, has been firing rockets into Israel in response to the conflict in Gaza, which was triggered by a Hamas attack on October 7th.
The Israel Defence Forces have reportedly targeted over 1,300 Hezbollah locations within a 24-hour period, while Hezbollah has fired 35 rockets into Israel with no reported casualties. The escalation of the conflict in Lebanon comes after explosions caused casualties amongst Hezbollah members through pagers and radio handsets, an incident that many believe Israel was behind, though they have not taken responsibility.
BBC News has been on the ground reporting on the situation, with journalists in Beirut, northern Israel, and Jerusalem providing updates on the ongoing conflict. The situation in Lebanon remains volatile and tense as violence continues to escalate on both sides of the border.
As tensions rise and the death toll climbs, the international community watches with concern as the conflict in Lebanon shows no signs of abating.
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