Lebanon's health ministry reports that the number of people killed in the country by Israeli strikes during the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which escalated at the beginning of March, has surpassed 3,000. The death toll was recorded at 3,020 on Monday, marking a grim milestone as hostilities show no signs of abating, despite a fragile ceasefire.
Lebanon was drawn into the war on March 2, after the Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel following an Israeli strike that killed Iran's supreme leader. The fatalities continue to rise even after Lebanon and Israel agreed to extend their truce by 45 days, with peace negotiations set to resume at the beginning of June.
The health ministry indicated that more than 400 of the deaths occurred since the ceasefire took effect on April 17, a period marred by repeated violations from both sides. The truce deal, brokered by the United States, allegedly allows Israel to conduct strikes aimed at countering Hezbollah's military activities.
Lebanon has condemned the ongoing attacks, arguing that they undermine its control over armed groups' weapons. Following the ceasefire extension announcement, Israeli strikes have intensified across towns and villages in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley, leading to numerous fatalities.
Recent attacks included a barrage across over two dozen villages, with only nine receiving evacuation warnings beforehand. On Saturday, Hezbollah retaliated by targeting Israeli barracks in the north with drones, claiming several operations against Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon. Israel's military confirmed that a soldier was killed during recent fighting, raising their total losses since early March to 20, with four civilian casualties reported as well.
Israeli ground forces are reported to occupy a strip of territory approximately 10 kilometers from the Lebanese border, seized during the conflict, further complicating the already tense situation.
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