Tens of thousands of people fled southern Lebanon as Israel vowed to accelerate its aerial offensive, resulting in the country’s deadliest day in almost two decades. The death toll in Lebanon surpassed 500 as Hezbollah launched attacks across the border, escalating tensions between the U.S. ally and the Iran-backed militant group. Washington was preparing to evacuate Americans, while international flights were canceled. Roads were jammed as residents fled their homes in southern Lebanon following warnings from Israel and subsequent attacks. Nearly 500 people were killed in Lebanon, including 50 children and 94 women, with at least 1,835 injured as of Tuesday. Israel intensified its aerial attacks after targeting Hezbollah’s communication devices. Scenes of families fleeing amid explosions raised fears of a broader regional conflict.
European Union officials described the situation as extremely dangerous and close to a full-fledged war. Israeli military Chief of Staff vowed to continue operating at full force, launching attacks on Hezbollah targets. Meanwhile, Hezbollah continued to launch rockets into northern Israel in retaliation. U.S. officials expressed concern about Israel’s escalating strategy, with Secretary of State Blinken expected to discuss de-escalation during the U.N. General Assembly. The U.S. did not support Israel’s potential ground invasion into Lebanon, believing it would not reduce violence in the region. Israeli preparedness was taken seriously, but the focus was on finding diplomatic solutions to avoid further escalation and stabilize the situation.
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