Lebanon's health ministry reports that the number of people killed in the country by Israeli strikes during the ongoing conflict with Hezbollah has surpassed 3,000. The latest figures indicate a troubling death toll of 3,020 as of Monday, demonstrating a grim milestone in the fighting that shows no signs of resolution, despite a fragile ceasefire.
The conflict intensified on March 2 when Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel following an Israeli strike that killed Iran's supreme leader. The toll has continued to rise even after Lebanon and Israel agreed to extend a truce by 45 days on Friday, indicating the ongoing volatility of the situation.
Since the ceasefire began on April 17, over 400 deaths have been recorded, which the ministry links to repeated violations from both sides. The ceasefire, mediated by the United States, permits targeted Israeli strikes intended to counter Hezbollah's military activities.
Lebanon's government has condemned these attacks as detrimental to their efforts to reassert control over armed groups within the nation. Despite the ceasefire extension, Israeli airstrikes have persisted across southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley, leading to further casualties.
Recent reports indicate a barrage of strikes affected more than twenty villages, with evacuation warnings issued for only a fraction of the targets. Hezbollah retaliated by claiming its fighters targeted Israeli military installations north of the border.
During the ongoing conflict, Israeli military reports cite the death of a soldier, raising the total military casualties to 20 since the beginning of March, alongside four civilian deaths. Israel maintains control over a strip of Lebanese territory, further complicating the fragile situation.
