Tuesday Briefing: Israeli Airstrikes in Lebanon Kill Hundreds

Tyre, in southern Lebanon, after Israeli airstrikes yesterday.Credit…Aziz Taher/Reuters

Israeli airstrikes killed hundreds in Lebanon

Israeli airstrikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon killed nearly 500, including dozens of women and children, and injured more than 1,000 others, Lebanon’s health ministry said. It was the deadliest day of Israeli attacks there since at least 2006, when Israel last fought a war with Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militant group. Follow live updates.

The strikes were Israel’s latest attempt to break Hezbollah’s resolve. They followed clandestine operations last week that blew up the wireless devices of Hezbollah members and killed at least 37 people. The Israeli military said that its air force had struck about 1,600 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon yesterday, adding that it would continue to do so. Here’s a map of the strikes.

So far, Israel has failed to force Hezbollah to pull back from the Lebanon-Israel border. Hezbollah launched its own barrage at Israel yesterday, most of which was intercepted by Israel’s antimissile defense system. Hezbollah leaders have said they will continue their attacks until Israel and Hamas agree to a cease-fire in Gaza.

Evacuations: Thousands of Lebanese families have been displaced, some of whose cars and vehicles were struck as they tried to flee, according to Lebanon’s health minister. Israeli strikes also hit ambulances and fire trucks as they raced to respond.

Gaza: Israeli forces struck a school building where displaced Palestinians were sheltering in central Gaza, killing a couple and their daughter and wounding several other people, according to Palestinian officials.

U.S. response: The Pentagon announced it would send dozens of U.S. troops to the Middle East to protect the thousands of Americans stationed there.