The Israeli military strikes on Monday killed more than 270 Lebanese and injuring thousand others in the deadliest attacks since the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war. The Israeli military said that the strikes were targeted in south and east Lebanon even as the Israeli military warned residents in southern and eastern Lebanon to evacuate their homes ahead of a widening air campaign against Hezbollah.
The Israeli strikes struck 300 targets in Lebanon in a move to step up pressure against the Hezbollah militant group, raising concerns of an all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah.
The Israeli air strikes targeted several towns, including Bint Jbeil, Aitaroun, Majdal Selem, Hula, Toura, Qlaileh, Haris, Nabi Chit, Tarayya, Shmestar, Harbata, Libbaya and Sohmor, according to a report in Al Jazeera.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged Lebanese civilians to heed Israeli calls to evacuate their homes, saying “take this warning seriously.”
“Please get out of harm’s way now. Once our operation is finished, you can come back safely to your homes,” Netanyahu said.
The Israel military, in a post on X earlier today, shared a photo of its military chief Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, approving additional attacks from military headquarters in Tel Aviv.
"We are deepening our attacks in Lebanon, the actions will continue until we achieve our goal to return the northern residents safely to their homes," Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said in a video published by his office on Monday.
The Israeli army warned Lebanese to 'move away' from Hezbollah sites and said it will launch more 'extensive, precise strikes' in Lebanon.
The latest attack is the most intense barrage of airstrikes in around one year of sporadic incidents of violence between the two countries.
An AFP report quoting Lebanese official media said that Israel has issued phone warnings to the Lebanese citizens to evacuate.
Halevi and other Israeli leaders have promised tougher action against Hezbollah in the coming days.