Israel strikes kill 492 people in Lebanon as Hezbollah issued chilling warning
Israel has vowed to continue its assault on Hezbollah until those displaced from the north of the country are able to return home, after a day of bombing left 492 dead.
Israeli attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon yesterday killed 492 people, the deadliest day in the conflict in almost 20 years.
Thousands of families fled their homes after the Israel Defence Force (IDF) made phone calls and sent messages warning civilians to evacuate the area as they prepared to strike domestic buildings being used to store weapons, ammunition and infrastructure.
In response, Hezbollah launched around 200 missiles into Israel, many of which were intercepted, although two people were injured by shrapnel.
Lebanon's Health Ministry said 35 children and 58 women were among the dead, while 1,645 others had been wounded.
World leaders are calling for calm as they attempt to diffuse a conflict that has been on the boil since Hezbollah stepped up its attacks over the border in the wake of October 7.
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US president Joe Biden said that his country was "working to de-escalate in a way that allows people to return home safely" as the Pentagon announced that it was sending a small contingent of US service personnel “out of an abundance of caution.”
Pentagon spokesperson Maj Gen Pat Ryder told reporters: "In light of increased tension in the Middle East and out of an abundance of caution, we are sending a small number of additional US military personnel forward to augment our forces that are already in the region."
Gen Ryder refused to be drawn on the specifics of what the deployment entails.
The attacks came as Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant warned of a new phase of the war which would require the Israel public to "show composure."
Mr Gallant promised to continue the assault until thousands of Israelis displaced from their homes in the north since October 7 were able to return.
Shocking scenes in Lebanon as the IDF bombs the house of a local fireworks enthusiast. Just look at his collection of Catherine wheels, Roman candles and bottle rockets going off.
— Andrew Fox (@Mr_Andrew_Fox) September 23, 2024
Well, either that or Hezbollah are hiding arms caches in civilian houses. Hard to say. pic.twitter.com/sl0obPvwBE
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A spokesperson said that the military were carrying out more precise and extensive strikes as he urged Lebanese civilians to evacuate.
The attack aimed to target weaponary and ammunition being stored in domestic propertires. Footage on social media seemed to show a house moments after being hit by a missile with ammunition exploding inside.
Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said: "Every house that we strike contains weapons" as he confirmed that the IDF were "systematically broadening our strikes against Hezbollah."
Lebanese security sources said the strikes targeted Hezbollah’s top commander in southern Lebanon, Ali Karaki, who managed to evade them and move to safety.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Najib Mikati responded by telling a cabinet meeting: "The continued Israeli aggression on Lebanon is a war of extermination in every sense of the word.
"We are working as a government to stop this new Israeli war and to avoid descending into the unknown.”
Following the attacks, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said that any civilian deaths were a "tragedy" but that Israel continued to make "vast efforts not to hit civilians and make every effort to mitigate harm to civilians."
Admiral Hagari also confirmed that a large number of Hezbollah fighters were killed as the weapons caches were hit.
