2026-03-12 14:10
publication
2026-03-12 14:10
Israeli attacks on Lebanon have so far killed at least 687 people, including 98 children, Lebanese Information Minister Paul Morcos said on Thursday, quoted by AFP. The previous count was 634 deaths. Israel threatens to further expand its operations in the country.
The Shiite terrorist organization Hezbollah dragged Lebanon into a regional war against Iran by shelling northern Israel on March 2. In response, the Israeli side launched a massive campaign against Hezbollah and Iran-linked targets in Lebanon. So far, as “L'Orient-le Jour” reported, already 816 thousand people in this country had to leave their homes.
On Thursday morning – according to local media – Israeli forces carried out the attack rocket attack on the Ramlet al-Bajda beach area in Beirut. The Lebanese health ministry reported that seven people were killed and 21 injured. “L'Orient-le Jour” reported a different casualty figure, reporting eight people killed and 31 injured.
Over the past 24 hours, Israel has called for the evacuation of residents of seven neighborhoods in southern Beirut, six towns in southern Lebanon and seven towns in the Kada Sidon area.
“L'Orient-le Jour” reported that late on Wednesday evening, Hezbollah informed via Telegram channels about the launch of an operation against Israel, code-named “Chewed Straw”, referring to a fragment of the Quran. Iranian state agencies reported that Iranian and Hezbollah forces attacked 50 targets in Israel.
Representatives of the Israeli military told the Times of Israel that the strike was coordinated with an Iranian attack for the first time. Hezbollah fired about 100 rockets into northern Israel on Wednesday evening, the largest such raid since the beginning of the current war. The portal added that Hezbollah's attack was aimed, among others, at: in Haifa. There are no reports of casualties so far.
Channel 12 television, citing the Israeli army, assured that the Israeli authorities knew about the plans of Iran and Hezbollah. The armed forces assured that Israel would respond decisively to these attacks.
Shortly later, on the night from Wednesday to Thursday, the Israeli army announced that it had destroyed dozens of rocket launchers and within half an hour it had struck 10 buildings, posts of the Hezbollah services responsible for intelligence and the command post of the Radwan forces, i.e. the so-called special units of this organization.
The Jedi'ot Acharonot newspaper reported on Wednesday, citing an Israeli official, that Israel is on the verge of a large-scale operation in Lebanon. It was announced that additional reservists would be mobilized for this purpose.
Israel has been conducting an air war with Iran since February 28, together with the United States. Hezbollah, sponsored by Tehran, attacked Israel, entering the conflict and drawing Lebanon into it.
Israel responded with air strikes against Hezbollah-linked targets in various parts of Lebanon, including Beirut, and a ground offensive in the south of the country. The Israeli army reported killing over 200 Hezbollah members. So far, 12 people have been killed in Iranian airstrikes on Israel. (PAP)
awm/ ek/ rtt/
