Over 550 Dead, 1,800 Injured as Israel’s Air Campaign Against Hezbollah Escalates

As of September 24, the death toll in Lebanon due to the recent surge of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has risen to 558. Among those casualties are at least 50 children and 94 women, with more than 1,800 individuals injured as the fighting enters its second day.

Lebanese Health Minister Firass Abiad stated during a news conference in Beirut that the country remains embroiled in the conflict with ongoing attacks. He also revealed that four first responders were killed when 14 ambulances and firetrucks were struck by Israeli forces, bringing the total number injured on Monday alone to an alarming 1,835.

Additionally, Nasser Yassine, Lebanon’s government coordinator for emergency preparedness, reported that recent airstrikes have displaced over 16,500 individuals, leading to the conversion of 150 schools into temporary shelters for those affected.

As the situation unfolds, Israel confirmed that it has completed a second wave of airstrikes targeting Hezbollah’s capacity to launch rockets into Israeli territory. These strikes focused on degrading the military infrastructure utilized by Hezbollah.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) indicated that they targeted buildings associated with the terrorist organization where weapons were believed to be stored and command centers located. They pointed to secondary explosions as evidence of substantial weapon storage in these locations.

In the past 24 hours, Israeli fighter jets have flown hundreds of operations aimed at striking approximately 1,500 sites associated with Hezbollah across Lebanon, releasing nearly 2,000 munitions to diminish the militant group’s capabilities.

Despite these extensive strikes, Hezbollah responded by firing over 100 rockets into northern Israel throughout Monday. Sirens alerting to incoming rockets were triggered in towns such as Afula and Nazareth around 2:40 a.m. local time on Tuesday.

In Beirut, reports surfaced indicating that an airstrike hit a residential area, allegedly targeting the head of Hezbollah’s missile unit. It remains unclear whether the commander was present during the strike on the known Hezbollah stronghold in the Dahiyeh suburb of the capital.

Local media reported that this marked the fifth airstrike by Israel on the capital since the escalation of hostilities began. The National News Agency noted injuries from an attack on a six-story building in the Ghobeiry district of Beirut.

Rescue operations were underway to assist residents trapped within the collapsed structure. Footage shared online depicted chaotic scenes with anguished crowds amidst smoke and debris, showcasing the extent of the destruction.

Aides to U.S. President Joe Biden have conveyed that he is working diligently to de-escalate tensions in the region. Ahead of his address to the U.N. General Assembly, the administration is poised to leverage this gathering of world leaders to explore potential solutions to the conflict.

Washington has reportedly developed “concrete ideas” to help bring the crisis under control, as noted by a senior official. This initiative comes amid heightened concerns about the trajectory of the conflict.

In response to the escalating situation, the Pentagon announced the deployment of a “small” number of additional U.S. troops to the region for support and to bolster existing forces.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell expressed the gravity of the situation, warning of a potential full-scale war. He emphasized the excessive and alarming nature of the current escalation, noting the increasing number of military strikes resulting in severe collateral damage and civilian casualties.

Borrell pointed out that the civilian population in Lebanon is suffering an “intolerable, unacceptable price” due to the ongoing conflict.

Israel characterized its earlier attacks as “extensive strikes” against Hezbollah, aimed at weapon depots hidden within civilian structures. They had issued warnings for civilians living near potential targets to evacuate, framing these actions as a response to growing threats from Hezbollah.

Moreover, these strikes have been described as part of an operation to prevent an anticipated offensive by Hezbollah against northern Israel, termed “Conquer the Galilee.” This operation aims to thwart potential incursions and violence against civilian communities.