Extract from ABC News
Emergency responders work at the site of an Israeli strike in Al-Mazraa in Beirut. (Reuters: Yara Nardi)
In short:
Israel has unleashed one of its largest coordinated attacks against Hezbollah, striking targets across Lebanon.
Local authorities in the country say hundreds of people are feared dead from the intense wave of strikes.
Israel's military says it respects international law but Lebanon's president has labelled the attacks "barbaric".
Hundreds of people are feared to be dead in Lebanon after an intense wave of Israeli strikes across the country against claimed Hezbollah targets.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it launched 100 different attacks on the Iranian-backed militant group in a 10 minute window on Wednesday.
Lebanon's civil defence ministry later said the strikes had killed at least 254 people, while the country's health ministry said around 700 were wounded.
Massive explosions were reported across the Lebanese capital Beirut, including in areas well outside the southern suburb of Dahiyeh — traditionally viewed as Hezbollah's stronghold.
One strike hit near Beirut's renowned Corniche. Sites were also hit in the Bekaa Valley and across southern Lebanon.
Israeli and Lebanese media are citing the Lebanese Red Cross in reporting the death toll could be as high as 300, with many more injured.
The office of the Lebanese President said Israel had committed a "new massacre," and was showing contempt for all international laws and norms," labelling the strikes as "barbaric."
"This dangerous escalation places full responsibility on the Israeli entity for its repercussions, and we affirm that the continuation of these aggressive policies will only lead to further tension and a complete lack of stability, at a time when all are most in need of de-escalation and respect for commitments," the presidency said in a statement.
The IDF's international spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani, sought to explain the rationale for the latest strikes.
"We've seen Hezbollah disperse over different areas, taking advantage of the warnings that we provide for civilians, to also hide for themselves among the civilians, moving, trying to scatter their operations in different locations," he told reporters.
"They have moved out … from areas like Dahiyeh, that are really recognised as areas that have had vast warnings and have a lot of military targets and are essentially areas controlled by Hezbollah.
Earlier in the day, the IDF had issued warnings to people in Beirut's southern suburbs to leave, as well as parts of the south of the country such as in the city of Tyre.
But specific evacuation warnings for other parts of Beirut were not issued prior to the attacks.
The strikes are the biggest Israeli attacks on Hezbollah since the pager attacks in September 2024. (Reuters: Ali Hankir)
Lt. Col. Shoshani dismissed suggestions that put civilians at risk.
"There are certain elements and incidents where the element of surprise is necessary and is used," he said.
"We operate under international law with every single target, and do everything that we can to avoid harm to civilians."
Iran state media warns of retaliatory strikes
Israel continues to insist it is targeting Hezbollah in its strikes, but the surging death toll shows civilians are repeatedly bearing the brunt of its aggression across the country.
Before Wednesday's attacks, the death toll stood at more than 1,500 people, including 130 children. Almost 5,000 people had been injured.
More than 1 million people, around 20 per cent of the population, are displaced.
The attacks came hours after Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted the ceasefire between the United States, Israel and Iran did not include its war in Lebanon.
Israel's military says it has struck over 100 different targets. (Reuters: Yara Nardi)
That's despite Pakistan, which brokered the deal, saying Lebanon was covered by the fragile truce.
Iranian state media, citing an unnamed regime official, reported on Wednesday afternoon, local time, that Iran was considering strikes against Israel in retaliation for the Lebanon attacks — viewing it as a breach of the ceasefire, less than 24 hours old.
Hezbollah hit by biggest attack since 2024
Israel's Defense Minister, Israel Katz said Wednesday's wave of attacks was the largest coordinated strike on Hezbollah since the infamous pager attack.
That was in September 2024, when thousands of handheld pagers and walkie talkies exploded across the country after being sabotaged by Israel's spy agency Mossad.
Israel reignited its war with Hezbollah in early March, after the Iranian-backed group fired upon Israel in solidarity with the regime in Tehran.
Rocket fire towards northern Israel and beyond was met with a fierce response, and Israel launched a ground invasion of the south.
Mr Netanyahu and Mr Katz had signalled Israel's intention to occupy the entirety of southern Lebanon, from the Israel border north to the Litani River, to create a so-called security buffer between Hezbollah and Israel.
A ceasefire had technically been in place between Israel and Hezbollah, which is considered a terrorist organisation under Australian law, since November 2024.
But Israel had stood accused of hundreds of violations, and almost daily strikes into Lebanon during that period.
While not excusing Israel's responsibility, the Lebanese Government had said Hezbollah gave Israel an excuse to attack the country.
The government, in turn, has been criticised for being too weak to rein in Hezbollah.
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