Israeli Airstrikes Kill At Least 31 In Southern And Eastern Lebanon, Wound Dozens

Israeli airstrikes killed at least 31 people across southern and eastern Lebanon and wounded dozens more on Wednesday, as Israel widened its military campaign against Hezbollah despite a cease-fire that officially remains in effect.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry said the casualties came from Tuesday’s bombardment, which targeted several areas in the south and the eastern Bekaa Valley, including 12 people killed in a strike on the eastern village of Mashghara.

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Fire and fear spread beyond the border as air raid sirens sounded in northern Israel following incoming fire from Lebanon, and Hezbollah said it launched rockets, artillery shells and explosive drones targeting Israeli troops advancing near the Litani River toward the villages of Yohmor al-Shaqif and Zawtar al-Sharqieh.

In Beirut’s Hamra district, Tony Aboud said, “By just saying a few words on TV, Netanyahu causes everyone to panic and flee their homes,” as he described not knowing “how long we can live like this.”

Israel declared Ras Naqoura in southern Lebanon a closed military zone until at least May 31, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed intensified strikes on Hezbollah infrastructure.

Shafaq News said the Army called up reserve soldiers to expand operations beyond the “yellow line,” and it claimed that more than 70 Hezbollah sites were hit over the past 24 hours.

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In a separate report, KAN said the Israeli army issued call-up orders for reserve soldiers to expand its offensive in Lebanon, with soldiers recently released from service ordered to return immediately, and the report did not specify the number of reservists to be mobilized.

The same reporting tied the mobilization to a Sunday meeting of the Israeli Security Cabinet, during which army Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir reportedly called for renewed strikes on the Lebanese capital Beirut in response to Hezbollah drone attacks.

Netanyahu said he had ordered the military to escalate its offensive in an effort to “crush” Hezbollah, as the Guardian reported that Hezbollah staged attacks on Monday on three barracks and a military post in northern Israel “in response to the violation of the ceasefire” by Israel.

In the Guardian’s account, Netanyahu also said in a video statement posted on his Telegram channel, “I have ordered an even greater acceleration of our operations,” adding that Israel would “intensify our blows, increase our firepower, and we will crush them.”

Lebanon’s National News Agency reported that dozens of Israeli strikes earlier targeted several towns and villages in southern Lebanon in the early hours, killing three people in two cars and on a motorcycle, and then targeted several towns near the ancient city of Tyre after Israel issued evacuation orders for 10 villages.

The Guardian also said Israeli strikes since early March have killed more than 3,100 people, while it reported that the number of Israeli soldiers killed since the outbreak of hostilities with Hezbollah had reached 23, with one civilian contractor also killed.