MORE than 3000 people have been killed in Lebanon during the 13 months of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, the country’s health ministry has said.
Officials said at least 13,492 people have been injured, while a quarter of those killed were women and children.
Hezbollah began firing rockets into northern Israel the day after Hamas’ surprise attack into Israel on October 7, 2023 ignited the war in Gaza.
Hezbollah and Hamas are both allied with Iran.
The conflict escalated on September 23 with intense Israeli airstrikes on south and east Lebanon as well as Beirut’s southern suburbs, leaving hundreds dead and leading to the displacement of nearly 1.2 million people.
Israel began a ground invasion of south Lebanon on October 1, causing wide destruction in border villages but making little advances on the ground inside Lebanon.
In Israel, 72 people have been killed from Hezbollah attacks, including 30 soldiers.
It comes as Israel terminated an agreement facilitating the work of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees – the main aid provider in Gaza.
The move appears to be a step to implement legislation passed last month that would sever ties with the UNRWA agency and prevent it from operating in Israel.
Israel says the UNRWA has been infiltrated by Hamas. The agency denies the allegations and says it takes measures to ensure its neutrality.
On Sunday, Israel said its troops had carried out a ground raid into Syria to seize a Syrian it accuses of working with Iran.
It was the first time in the current war that Israel announced its troops operated in Syrian territory.
Despite growing pressure from the international community for a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon, intensified Israeli strikes against the Hezbollah militant group are expanding beyond Lebanon’s border areas.
