Lebanon faced one of its most devastating days in recent memory on Wednesday, as a sudden wave of Israeli airstrikes unleashed chaos across the country mere hours after a ceasefire was declared in Iran. The attacks, which struck without warning in the middle of the day, resulted in over 300 fatalities, with women, children, and the elderly accounting for a third of the casualties, according to Lebanese health officials.
Some of the strikes targeted densely populated neighborhoods previously considered safe, amplifying the shock and horror among residents.
Israel stated it conducted more than 100 airstrikes within a ten-minute span, focusing on what it described as sites linked to Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militant group. The assault has left Beirut, Lebanon's capital, in a state of profound trauma as communities struggle to cope with the aftermath. Correspondents on the ground report a city grappling with loss and destruction, with many residents expressing disbelief at the scale and suddenness of the violence.