Shocking bloodshed and mass flight of thousands of Palestinians following relentless Israeli bombardment in Lebanon. At least 492 people have been killed in intense and widespread air strikes, according to the country’s health ministry, in the bloodiest day of conflict in nearly 20 years.
Thousands of families also fled their homes as the Israeli military said it had struck 1,300 Hezbollah targets in an operation to destroy infrastructure built by the militant group since the 2006 war.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry said 35 children and 58 women were among the dead, while 1,645 others were injured.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah fired more than 200 rockets into northern Israel, the military said. Rescue workers said two people were wounded by shrapnel.
The global community is calling for restraint as both sides appear to be heading headlong toward an all-out war that will plunge the entire Middle East into regional conflict.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed concern over the escalating situation and said he did not want Lebanon to “become another Gaza”.