Lebanon’s health ministry has updated the death toll after two days of Isrraeli strikes in attacks on Hezbollah
The death toll from two days of Israeli strikes in Lebanon has reached 558, Lebanon’s health ministry said.
The figure was confirmed by Health Minister Firass Abiad, who told reporters that 1,835 people have also been wounded since early Monday. They were taken to 54 hospitals around Lebanon, he said.
At least seven people were killed in attacks on the southern city of Khan Younis, Palestinian authorities said on Tuesday, bringing the death toll up. It follows two days of airstrikes aimed at Hezbollah militants in the latest ramping up of war in the Middle East.
Israel and Lebanon have been locked in retaliatory attacks since war began with Hamas’ October 7 attacks. On Monday, it launched hundreds of strikes in south and east Lebanon, killing nearly 500 people and wounding more than 1,600 others.
Israeli military is continuing to claim self-defence, saying it would do “whatever necessary” to force Hezbollah to retreat away from the Lebanon Israel border. The violence has led to a mass exodus as civilians try to flee Lebanon, jamming the main highway to Beirut.
The country is still reeling from attacks last week in which exploding pager devices which killed at least 20 people and injured more than 450. Lebanon blamed the walkie-talkie attacks on Israel, although it has yet to confirm its responsibility.
Tuesday’s death toll also includes four paramedics, Mr Abiad said, as well as journalist Hadi Al-Sayyed, 22, working for Al-Mayadeen network, while a further 16 paramedics and firefighters were among the wounded.
