Israel and Hezbollah Exchange Fire After Lebanon Suffers Significant Casualties, Reports Reuters

JERUSALEM/BEIRUT (Reuters) – Israel’s military announced on Tuesday that it targeted numerous Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon overnight, following a significant airstrike campaign against the Iran-backed group that marked one of Lebanon’s deadliest days in decades.

Hezbollah claimed responsibility on Tuesday morning for attacks on several Israeli military installations, including an explosives factory located approximately 60 km (37 miles) inside Israel, using Fadi series rockets.

According to Hezbollah, it targeted the explosives facility around 4 a.m. (0100 GMT) and conducted multiple strikes on the Megiddo airfield throughout the night.

Amid an ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza, Israel is now redirecting its attention to the northern border, where Hezbollah has been launching rockets into Israel in solidarity with Hamas, which is also backed by Iran.

The Israeli military reported that it had taken action against a Hezbollah militant cell, and its artillery and armored divisions engaged additional Hezbollah targets in the region. Police in northern Israel indicated that remnants of interceptor missiles were discovered in various locations.

Lebanese officials reported that Israeli airstrikes on Monday resulted in nearly 500 fatalities and prompted tens of thousands to escape in search of safety.

Following some of the most intense cross-border conflicts since hostilities escalated in October due to the Gaza war, Israel issued warnings for residents in Lebanon to evacuate areas believed to house Hezbollah’s weapon stockpiles.

Families from southern Lebanon filled vehicles—cars, vans, and trucks—with their belongings, leading to traffic congestion on highways heading north.

Nasser Yassin, the Lebanese minister overseeing crisis management, informed that 89 temporary shelters, including schools and other facilities, had been established, capable of accommodating over 26,000 individuals as civilians fled what he described as “Israeli atrocities.”

The Israeli military detailed strikes across southern, eastern, and northern Lebanon, targeting rocket launchers, command posts, and militant infrastructure. Reports indicated that approximately 1,600 Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley were struck.

Lebanon’s health ministry reported at least 492 deaths, including 35 children, and 1,645 injuries. One official noted that this was the highest daily death toll from violence in Lebanon since the civil war that lasted from 1975 to 1990.