September 24, 2024: In a dramatic escalation of the ongoing Israel-Hezbollah conflict, Israeli airstrikes on Monday resulted in the deaths of 492 individuals in Lebanon, marking the deadliest day of cross-border violence since 2006. The strikes, targeting Hezbollah positions across southern Lebanon, have raised alarm about a potential all-out war in the region.

In retaliation, Hezbollah launched nearly 200 rockets into northern Israel, prompting air raid sirens in cities including Haifa, Afula, and Nazareth. The Iran-backed militant group claimed that its strikes were aimed at multiple Israeli military bases and airfields, demonstrating its capability and resolve amidst the intensifying conflict.

The violence has triggered a mass exodus, with tens of thousands fleeing from southern Lebanese towns towards the capital, Beirut. According to the Lebanese health ministry, the airstrikes injured 1,645 people and left devastation across the region, contributing to the highest daily death toll Lebanon has experienced since the end of its civil war in 1990.

This surge in hostilities follows a prolonged period of tension that has been exacerbated since the outbreak of conflict in Gaza last October. International calls for restraint have intensified as fears grow over the potential for a broader regional war.