Israeli airstrikes kill over 80 people in Lebanon Hezbollah retaliates

On November 23, Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon killed at least 84 people, bringing the death toll to 3,754 since the outbreak of violence in October 2023, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.

The airstrikes also left 213 people wounded, with the total number of injuries reaching 15,626 since the escalation began last year, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

In retaliation to these deadly attacks, Hezbollah launched a barrage of 250 rockets and projectiles into Israel on November 24. The rockets targeted areas near Tel Aviv, causing significant damage and injuring seven people. This marked one of Hezbollah’s heaviest retaliatory barrages in recent months.

Israel has been conducting an extensive air campaign against what it claims are Hezbollah positions in Lebanon since late September, following the start of its ground assault on southern Lebanon on October 1. The conflict is part of a broader cross-border war between Israel and Hezbollah that has escalated in the wake of the Israeli offensive on Gaza.

The Lebanese Health Ministry reports that Israeli attacks have displaced over 1 million people in Lebanon, with more than a quarter of the country’s population forced to flee their homes.

Hezbollah’s attacks, which began after the October 7 Hamas assault on Israel from Gaza, have been framed as a show of solidarity with Palestinians and Hamas. Both Hezbollah and Hamas receive support from Iran. Israeli airstrikes have targeted Hezbollah, and in September, the conflict escalated further with Israeli airstrikes killing Hezbollah’s top leader, Hassan Nasrallah.

The war has been devastating for Lebanon, with over 3,700 Lebanese killed in the fighting and about 1.2 million displaced. On the Israeli side, nearly 140 people have died—90 soldiers and 50 civilians—due to bombardments and clashes following Israel’s ground invasion in early October. Approximately 60,000 Israelis have been displaced from northern Israel.

As the conflict rages on, the humanitarian toll continues to rise on both sides of the border.

By Khagan Isayev