Lebanese authorities reported that Israeli airstrikes over the past 24 hours have resulted in the deaths of at least 40 people, including several children.
The attacks targeted the southern suburbs of Beirut and the coastal city of Tyre, with intense bombardment late Friday night. According to Lebanon's health ministry, at least seven fatalities were recorded in Tyre.
While the Israeli military had previously ordered evacuations in parts of Tyre, no official directives were posted on social media platform X prior to the latest strikes.
The escalation marks a severe intensification in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah-aligned forces in Lebanon, raising concerns over civilian safety in the affected areas.
The ministry said two children were among the dead. Rescue operations were ongoing and other body parts retrieved in the aftermath of the attack would undergo DNA testing to identify them, the ministry added. Strikes in nearby towns on Saturday killed 13 people, including seven medics from rescue groups affiliated with Hezbollah and its ally Amal, the health ministry said. At least 20 more people were killed in Israeli strikes on Saturday across the eastern plains around the historic city of Baalbek, the health ministry said.
The Israeli military said it had struck Hezbollah infrastructure sites in the areas of Tyre and Baalbek, including fighters, "operational apartments," and weapons stores.
The Lebanese health ministry said Israeli attacks have killed at least 3,136 people and wounded 13,979 in Lebanon over the last year. The toll includes 619 women and 194 children.