Lebanon’s Health Ministry said at least 182 people were killed and 890 were injured in Wednesday’s strikes. Officials described the figures as preliminary as rescue teams continued searching through rubble.
Lebanon’s Civil Defense said crews worked overnight to locate survivors. Authorities warned the death toll could rise as operations continued.
Advertisement Explosions were reported across Beirut shortly after the ceasefire announcement
Hospitals called for urgent blood donations, and medical officials urged health care workers to report for emergency duty. Smoke was seen rising from multiple areas, including Beirut and the southern city of Tyre.
Israel’s military said it carried out strikes across Beirut, the Bekaa Valley, and southern Lebanon. Officials said the targets included Hezbollah positions.
Advertisement Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the strikes were part of “surprise attacks” against Hezbollah fighters
Advertisement Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the strikes were part of “surprise attacks” against Hezbollah fighters. He said Israel was separating its operations in Lebanon from the ceasefire involving Iran.
Hezbollah had previously launched rockets into Israel following a joint U.S.-Israeli strike that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, according to regional reports. Israeli officials said their actions were aimed at preventing further attacks.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned the strikes. He said the attacks targeted densely populated residential areas and killed civilians.
Advertisement Salam called on international allies to intervene
Advertisement Salam called on international allies to intervene. “Help us stop these attacks by all available means,” he said.
Nada Saliba, a broadcaster in Beirut, described fleeing after a nearby strike collapsed part of a residential building. “All I was thinking about was my two children,” she said.
“I don’t want them to mourn me,” Saliba said. She spoke while leaving her workplace to return home during the attacks.
Lebanese officials said they have sought diplomatic solutions for weeks
Israel has rejected those overtures, citing ongoing threats from Hezbollah. Officials said rocket and drone attacks have displaced residents in northern Israel in previous conflicts.
Israel has also launched a ground offensive in southern Lebanon. Authorities said more than 10 percent of the country has been placed under evacuation orders.
The policy has raised concerns about a prolonged military presence
Israeli officials said displaced Lebanese residents would not be allowed to return until security conditions improve. The policy has raised concerns about a prolonged military presence.
Lebanese authorities said more than 1,700 people have been killed in the broader conflict, including at least 130 children. More than 1 million people have been displaced, according to officials.
Israel said 12 of its soldiers have been killed in combat in Lebanon. Officials also said Hezbollah rocket fire has killed two people inside Israel.
Hezbollah condemned the latest strikes
Hezbollah condemned the latest strikes. The group said it would continue to resist and respond to Israeli military actions.
The escalation raised questions about the scope of the U.S.-Iran ceasefire. Iranian officials said they believed the agreement included a halt to Israeli strikes in Lebanon.
Officials later described the discrepancy as a misunderstanding
Pakistan, which helped mediate the agreement, initially indicated the ceasefire would apply broadly. Officials later described the discrepancy as a misunderstanding.
Vice President JD Vance said Iranian officials may have interpreted the deal differently. “I think the Iranians thought that the ceasefire included Lebanon, and it just didn’t,” Vance said.
