Wed Sep 25 02:05:53 UTC 2024: ## Israeli Airstrikes on Lebanon Leave Over 500 Dead, Thousands Displaced
**BEIRUT, Sept. 24 (Xinhua)** – The death toll from intensive Israeli airstrikes on southern and eastern Lebanon has reached 558, including 50 children and 94 women, with 1,835 injured, according to Lebanese Health Minister Firas Abiad.
Abiad condemned the Israeli attacks, stating that they have targeted civilians, medical teams, and even ambulances, with four paramedics killed and 16 injured. He specifically condemned the targeting of the Bint Jbeil hospital, refuting Israeli claims of solely targeting Hezbollah members.
Since Monday, Israeli forces have been carrying out extensive airstrikes on villages and towns in southern and eastern Lebanon, displacing thousands of families to safer areas. The escalating conflict, which began on October 8, 2023, with exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and the Israeli army across the Lebanese-Israeli border, is raising concerns of a broader conflict, particularly as the war between Hamas and Israel continues in the Gaza Strip.
Photos released by Xinhua show the grim reality of the situation. Displaced Lebanese families, many of whom are children, are fleeing the bombing in Sidon and seeking refuge in Beirut and other areas. Smoke fills the sky from Israeli raids in Marjeyoun, highlighting the devastating impact of the attacks. The images serve as a stark reminder of the human cost of the ongoing conflict.
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