Lebanese Health Minister Rakan Nasreddine confirmed Sunday that Israeli airstrikes have killed 394 people across Lebanon since March 2, with casualties including 83 children and 42 women. At least 1,130 others were injured in what officials describe as one of the most intense military escalations since the 2024 ceasefire.
Residential neighborhoods and civilian infrastructure bore the brunt of recent attacks, according to Nasreddine, who highlighted a particularly deadly strike in the Bekaa Valley that wiped out six members of a single family. Emergency responders face unprecedented risks, with nine healthcare workers killed and five hospitals damaged during rescue operations.
The violence follows Hezbollah's March 2 rocket attacks toward Israel – the first since the November 2024 truce. Israeli forces have implemented evacuation warnings for areas south of the Litani River while conducting combined air-ground operations along the border.
International organizations have raised alarms about the humanitarian impact, particularly the targeting of medical facilities. The Lebanese Red Cross reports its paramedics are operating under constant threat, with 16 emergency responders wounded this week alone.
