Lebanese health ministry announced that Israeli airstrikes have killed and wounded women, children, and medics. As of Monday, the strikes have resulted in at least 100 deaths and over 400 injuries. It is unclear how many casualties are civilians and how many are Hezbollah militants. Many strikes targeted residential areas with a strong Hezbollah presence.
A popular Lebanese radio station reported a hack. The hack interrupted its broadcast with an Israeli evacuation warning. A widely shared video shows a voice breaking into a program on the Voice of Lebanon radio station. The voice states, “Hezbollah is forcing the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] to target military areas in the village. The [IDF] don’t want to harm you.” The station claims Israeli hackers disrupted its services.
This incident also coincides with reports that Lebanese citizens in Beirut and nearby areas received similar text messages. These messages urged immediate evacuation. Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari called on “residents of Lebanese villages to pay attention to the messages and warnings published by the IDF.”
In response to the violence, the Lebanese government ordered schools to suspend classes. This order affects both public and private schools in several regions. Schools will remain closed for two days in southern Lebanon to protect students.
Traffic has surged as residents flee towns for Beirut. Videos show long queues of cars. One person from Sidon noted the unprecedented congestion. Google Maps data indicates significant delays along main roads.
The death toll from Israeli strikes continues to rise. At least 50 people were reported killed earlier on Today. Israel has conducted its most intensive air campaign in Lebanon since the Gaza conflict began last October. Courtesy of CNN.
