Israeli airstrikes continued to bombard Lebanon on Monday, resulting in at least 31 deaths across the country, with the majority of casualties reported in southern Lebanon. The strikes targeted multiple locations, including areas in Beirut, Tyre, Nabatiyeh, and the Bekaa Valley. Lebanon’s health authorities confirmed the death toll, stating that the attacks, which have intensified in recent days, are part of an ongoing Israeli military campaign against Hezbollah positions in the region.
According to Israel’s military, the strikes on Monday targeted around 25 Hezbollah-affiliated sites in various Lebanese cities and towns. Among the key targets were Hezbollah’s facilities in southern Beirut, the Bekaa Valley, and Baalbek. Israel’s defense forces stated that the attacks were aimed at dismantling Hezbollah’s infrastructure in Lebanon, including command centers and weapon stockpiles. However, reports from Hezbollah denied that senior leaders were targeted during these raids.
Witnesses from the Lebanese capital reported plumes of smoke rising from the southern suburbs of Beirut after the Israeli strikes began in the morning. Israeli fighter jets launched a fourth round of strikes later in the evening, particularly hitting areas such as Haret Hreik and Shiyah in southern Beirut. These areas had already seen heavy bombardment over the weekend, which included a deadly attack on the densely populated Basta neighborhood, where at least 29 people lost their lives.
The National News Agency (NNA) also reported that Israel’s military launched a drone strike targeting a residential complex in a Druze-majority town on the outskirts of Beirut, further exacerbating the fears of the Lebanese population. The attack occurred without prior evacuation warnings, adding to the already tense situation in the country.
In the wake of the escalating violence, Lebanon’s Ministry of Education announced the suspension of classes across schools, technical institutes, and private universities in Beirut and surrounding areas, citing the “dangerous conditions” resulting from the ongoing conflict. Meanwhile, Hezbollah claimed to have launched 50 attacks on Israeli positions and military forces across the border. Israel’s military reported retaliatory fire, including 250 projectiles launched into Israeli territory.
The war, which has raged since September 2023, has already claimed the lives of at least 3,799 Lebanese, while Israel has reported 129 casualties, including 82 soldiers and 47 civilians. Despite international pressure for a ceasefire, including calls from the United States, the European Union, and the United Nations, the conflict shows no sign of abating. Israel’s security cabinet is expected to meet later this week to discuss the possibility of a ceasefire agreement.
