The Lebanese Ministry of Health reported late Monday that the death toll from Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon had risen to 492, with 1,645 injured since the attacks began that morning.
According to Lebanon’s Public Health Emergency Operations Center, the casualties include 35 children and 58 women.
The Israeli military stated it targeted Hezbollah weapons depots, claiming that the group stores cruise missiles, rocket launchers, and drones in civilian homes. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) also announced plans to expand their airstrikes on alleged Hezbollah weapons sites in southern and eastern Lebanon.
In addition, Israeli air raids were extended to Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, along the eastern border, following the targeting of over 300 sites in southern Lebanon.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated that Monday’s airstrikes destroyed tens of thousands of Hezbollah missiles, significantly weakening the Iran-backed group’s capabilities, which are now facing some of the strongest strikes in its history.
Gallant added, “Today marks a crucial moment. We have effectively taken tens of thousands of missiles and precision weapons out of service. What Hezbollah built over 20 years since the Second Lebanon War is being dismantled by the Israeli military.”
Israeli security estimates suggest that Hezbollah’s capabilities have been reduced by 50% since the start of the conflict, with most of the damage occurring in the last two days.
This latest wave of airstrikes followed a tense day in which Hezbollah launched over 100 rockets into northern Israel, with some landing near the city of Haifa. Israel responded with hundreds of airstrikes.
Hezbollah’s rocket attacks came in retaliation for an Israeli airstrike on Beirut’s southern suburbs last Friday, which killed a senior Hezbollah commander, over 10 of the group’s members, and dozens of civilians, including women and children.
Last week, thousands of Hezbollah communication devices exploded across Lebanon, resulting in 39 deaths and nearly 3,000 injuries. While Lebanon blamed Israel for the explosions, the Israeli government has neither confirmed nor denied responsibility.
