Lebanon: Tension As Israel Airstrike Kills 274 Including Children, Over 700 Injured

• Israel has made a historic attack since the Gaza war began after killing 274 people and injuring 727 in a single day
• Israel has promised to expand operations in the areas to include Beeka Valley to return the northern Israel residents safely to their homes
• The displaced individuals in Tyre have expressed fear after the airstrikes struck closer to the displacement centres

Nancy Odindo, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics, news, and feature stories across digital and print media in Kenya.

Lebanon - Israeli airstrikes targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon have resulted in 274 fatalities and 727 injuries in just one day, marking the deadliest incident since the conflict began.

The country’s health ministry confirmed that among those killed were women, children, and paramedics.

Israel promises to expand operations in Beeka Valley

Aljazeera reported that Israel had struck 300 targets in its most intense offensive against Hezbollah since the Gaza war began in October last year, and it is expanding operations to include areas in the Bekaa Valley along Lebanon’s eastern border.

“The actions will continue until we achieve our goal of returning the northern Israel residents safely to their homes. These are days in which the Israeli public will have to show composure,” the Israeli defence minister, Yoav Gallant, said as Hezbollah vowed to fight on until there is a ceasefire in Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the military is altering the security balance along its northern border.

Displaced people are living in fear

Earlier, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) had warned residents in Beirut and other areas through phone calls to evacuate and stay away from buildings associated with Hezbollah weaponry.

Meanwhile, the displaced individuals find themselves in danger as airstrikes strike closer to their shelters, leaving them in a state of panic, according to The Guardian.

“The airstrikes have now reached us, just on the outskirts of Tyre. There was a strike only 100 meters behind the displacement centre, with three explosions. Displaced individuals have stopped coming here; those who wish to flee are leaving the south completely,” said a coordinator at the displacement centre.

“The airstrikes keep coming, one after another. People are terrified,” added Hassan Dabouk, head of Tyre’s Union of Municipalities.

Government urges Kenyans in Lebanon to evacuate

In other news, amid the escalating tensions, Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, through the Department of Diaspora Affairs, urged Kenyan citizens in Lebanon to either evacuate the country or relocate to safer areas.

The government asked citizens to promptly register for evacuation using an online form provided by the ministry or by contacting +96590906719, +96171175006, or +254114757002.

Kenyans with relatives in Lebanon were also encouraged to visit the ministry’s office at Old Mutual Building, Upper Hill Road, Nairobi, or call +254114757002 to facilitate coordination and ensure a smooth evacuation process.

Proofreading by Otukho Jackson, a multimedia journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke