On Monday, Israel launched airstrikes targeting Hezbollah sites in Lebanon, resulting in the deaths of 492 people, according to Lebanese authorities, and prompting tens of thousands to flee in what has been described as Lebanon's deadliest day in decades. This escalation followed intense cross-border exchanges of fire since hostilities first erupted in October. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the Lebanese public via a video, stating that Israel’s conflict is with Hezbollah, not with them, accusing Hezbollah of using civilians as human shields.
As Israeli airstrikes intensified, families in southern Lebanon hastily evacuated, cramming into vehicles as highways north became gridlocked. Abed Afou, one of the fleeing civilians, described the terrifying experience of escaping with his family amidst surrounding strikes. Lebanese authorities, led by crisis response minister Nasser Yassin, opened 89 temporary shelters in schools and other facilities to accommodate over 26,000 people.
Israel, which has been battling Hamas in Gaza for almost a year, has now shifted its focus to its northern border with Hezbollah. The Iran-backed group has been firing rockets into Israel in support of Hamas. Israel’s military confirmed striking Hezbollah targets across southern Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley, and other areas, destroying approximately 1,600 Hezbollah positions. Lebanon’s health ministry reported 492 casualties, including 35 children, with 1,645 wounded. A Lebanese official noted that this was the highest death toll in a single day since the country’s 1975-1990 civil war.
The intensifying conflict has raised concerns of a broader war potentially drawing in the U.S., Israel’s key ally, and Iran. Saudi Arabia expressed deep concern and called for restraint, while a senior U.S. official emphasized that Washington does not support an escalation and is discussing diplomatic solutions with allies to prevent a wider war. Israeli officials, however, indicated that their goal is to pressure Hezbollah into a diplomatic resolution.
In contrast, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian accused Israel of trying to provoke a full-scale regional war by dragging Iran into the conflict. Speaking at the U.N. General Assembly, Pezeshkian warned of irreversible consequences if the situation escalates further.
Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant declared Monday a “significant peak” in the ongoing conflict, claiming that tens of thousands of Hezbollah’s rockets and precision munitions, accumulated over two decades, were being systematically destroyed. Israeli airstrikes targeted Hezbollah’s senior leader in southern Lebanon, Ali Karaki, although Hezbollah reported that he had relocated to a secure location. Meanwhile, Hamas confirmed the death of its field commander in southern Lebanon, Mahmoud al Nader, in an Israeli strike.
Israel's military claimed that its strikes targeted Hezbollah’s arsenal of long-range missiles, rockets, and drones, while Hezbollah retaliated by firing missiles at an Israeli military base. Sirens warning of incoming rocket fire sounded in northern Israel, including Haifa and parts of the West Bank. So far, around 60,000 Israelis have been evacuated from the northern regions due to the fighting.
Israeli officials accused Hezbollah of hiding weapons in civilian areas, but Hezbollah has not commented on these claims, which could not be independently verified. The conflict continues to intensify as diplomatic efforts are underway to prevent a broader regional war, with the Group of Seven (G7) nations warning that no country would benefit from further escalation.