Over 250 People Killed in Israel's Largest Strike on Lebanon - Reuters
On Wednesday, April 8, Lebanon experienced its most extensive strike from Israel, resulting in the deaths of 254 individuals and injuries to over 1,100 others. This attack coincided with the announcement of a ceasefire between the United States and Iran, which Iranian officials claimed would also extend to Lebanon.
On April 8, 2023, Lebanon was subjected to the most significant military assault from Israel since the commencement of hostilities, leading to a tragic toll of 254 fatalities and more than 1,100 injuries. The strikes occurred on the same day that a ceasefire agreement was declared between the United States and Iran, which, according to representatives from Tehran, was intended to include Lebanon as well. However, the situation in the region has raised serious concerns regarding the adherence to this ceasefire.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian emphasized that a cessation of hostilities in Lebanon is a critical condition of his country's agreement with the United States. In contrast, Israeli military officials declared that these attacks represent the most coordinated strike since the outbreak of the war on March 2, when Hezbollah launched attacks against Israel in support of Tehran following a U.S.-Israeli assault on Iran.
The majority of the casualties were reported in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, where 91 individuals lost their lives. This day has become the deadliest since the conflict began over a month ago. Volker Turk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, expressed his outrage, stating that the scale of killings and destruction in Lebanon today is simply horrifying.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a televised address, remarked that Lebanon is not part of the ceasefire agreement with Iran, and thus the Israeli military will continue its operations against Hezbollah. This information was corroborated by officials in the White House, where spokesperson Caroline Levitt and U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance confirmed that the ceasefire does not extend to Lebanon, despite earlier statements from Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif suggesting that Lebanon should be included in the truce.
In response, Hezbollah ceased its attacks on Israeli targets early on April 8, having received information that their group was part of the ceasefire. However, following the Israeli strikes, Hezbollah resumed its rocket attacks, targeting the kibbutz Manara early on April 9. The group stated that this retaliation would continue until the Israeli-American aggression against Lebanon ceases.
It is important to note that the United States, Israel, and Iran had agreed to a two-week mutual ceasefire and the reopening of commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Nevertheless, according to the Israeli Prime Minister, this ceasefire does not apply to Lebanon, which has led to renewed tensions in the region. Following this, the Israel Defense Forces launched the largest wave of strikes on Lebanon since the war began, attacking over a hundred Hezbollah targets in just ten minutes.
In response to these actions, Iran warned that it would abandon the ceasefire reached with the United States if Israeli strikes on Lebanon persist. Iran also halted the passage of oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, which constitutes a violation of the ceasefire terms with the U.S. These developments indicate that the situation in the region remains tense and uncertain, and further actions could lead to an escalation of the conflict.