On Monday, Israel launched fresh airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon, killing 182 people and wounding more than 700, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. The victims included children, women, and medical personnel. Israel’s defense forces issued warnings, urging civilians to evacuate homes where Hezbollah allegedly stored weapons.
Lebanese officials reported receiving over 80,000 calls from suspected Israeli sources, instructing residents to flee. Imad Kreidieh, head of the telecom company Ogero, confirmed this development, describing the calls as “psychological warfare aimed at spreading fear and chaos.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated, “We have complicated days ahead. I promised to change the balance of power in the north, and that’s exactly what is happening.”
The Israeli military struck 300 targets in Lebanon on Monday, making it one of the deadliest days since the conflict began nearly a year ago. The Lebanese Interior Ministry ordered schools to open as shelters in Beirut, Tripoli, and southern regions to accommodate displaced citizens.
Israel’s latest evacuation warning follows covert operations aimed at dismantling parts of Hezbollah’s communication networks. A rare strike on Beirut last Friday destroyed a building where senior Hezbollah commanders were reportedly meeting.
Israel continues to expand its military operations, targeting villages in southern Lebanon. The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) issued a map of 17 towns but did not specify which would be targeted. In a statement, the IDF urged civilians in areas used by Hezbollah for military purposes to “immediately move out of harm’s way for their own safety.”
Israel’s efforts to weaken Hezbollah have intensified after a year of conflict, pushing the situation toward a potential all-out war. The country remains committed to its strategy of disrupting Hezbollah’s military capabilities, as confirmed by Netanyahu, who stated, “We are destroying thousands of rockets and missiles aimed at Israeli cities and civilians.”
