Lebanese health officials said Israeli attacks since Monday have killed hundreds, including women and children. Israel claimed it had killed one senior Hezbollah commander with an airstrike Tuesday on a building in the southern suburbs of Beirut.The New York Times reports that on Sept. 24, 2024 at 5:04 p.m. ET, thousands of people attempted to flee southern Lebanon as Israel continued to launch strikes against Hezbollah. The strikes, which included densely populated areas south of Beirut, caused panic among civilians who were seen flooding the main roads and gas stations leading into the capital. As a result, 27,000 displaced people have already been placed in temporary shelters, while others were forced to sleep in their cars, parks, and along the beach.

According to U.N. and Lebanese officials, the toll on civilians is unacceptable and the numbers continue to grow. The Israeli military’s chief spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, stated that Israel’s goal is to have a short campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon, which is why they are striking with high intensity. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant also addressed the situation, stating that Hezbollah has been significantly weakened.

One of the strikes on Tuesday hit near Beirut in an area known as the Dahiya, where Hezbollah holds significant power. The strike destroyed a six-story building and resulted in six deaths and 15 injuries, according to Lebanon’s state-run news agency. The Israeli military claims that the strike killed a senior Hezbollah commander, Ibrahim Mohammad Qobeisi, who oversaw the group’s missile apparatus. However, it is unclear how Israel confirmed his death, and Hezbollah has not yet commented on the claim.

Admiral Hagari also reported that Hezbollah had fired around 300 rockets into Israel on Tuesday, causing light injuries to six people, including civilians and soldiers. Most of the rockets were intercepted, but sirens and explosions were heard in several communities. The ongoing strikes have raised concerns about a potential ground war between Israel and Hezbollah, as the fighting in Gaza continues with no signs of a truce.

Lebanon’s health minister has raised the death toll from the strikes to 558 people, with 1,800 others injured. This makes Monday the deadliest day in the country since the end of the civil war in 1990. However, the figures do not differentiate between civilians and combatants. Health Minister Firass Abiad stated that many women and children were among those killed.

The map shows the locations of Israeli strikes in Lebanon on Monday, with a distance of 25 miles between Tripoli, Hermel, Beirut, Baalbek, and Damascus. The ongoing conflict has caused fear and instability in the Middle East, with no clear resolution in sight. 

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