Payam Javan: The Lebanese Health Ministry has reported that Israeli airstrikes over the past two days have claimed the lives of 558 people, with 1,835 more wounded. Health Minister Firass Abiad confirmed that the injured have been distributed across 54 hospitals in Lebanon. In response to the ongoing conflict, Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, condemned the Israeli bombardment as a “genocide,” while Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized the need for national unity in what he described as “complicated days” ahead.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have urged residents of southern Lebanon to evacuate areas where Hezbollah stores weapons, as Israel plans to intensify its strikes. This warning comes in the wake of a deadly exchange of fire on Sept. 22, when Hezbollah launched 150 rockets and drones into northern Israel, retaliating for the killing of a top commander. The rising violence has heightened fears of a broader conflict, as Israel is also engaged in operations against Hamas in Gaza and working to rescue hostages from the Oct. 7 Hamas attack. Hezbollah has vowed to continue its strikes in support of Hamas, while Israel remains focused on airstrikes aimed at limiting Hezbollah’s operational capacity.

Tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border have led to widespread evacuations, with both sides bracing for further escalation. Israeli airstrikes have reportedly hit over 150 Hezbollah-linked targets, and Lebanon’s National News Agency has documented widespread destruction in southern Lebanon. In a separate development, the Iran-backed Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility for launching missiles and drones at Israeli military positions, further complicating the already volatile situation. Both Hezbollah and Israel have expressed their commitment to continuing their military actions, intensifying the threat of a broader regional conflict.