CONFLICT
Nearly 800 people killed in Lebanon as Israel rejects ceasefire
September 27, 2024 - Israel dismisses global calls for a ceasefire with Hezbollah and continues its bombing campaign, with Lebanon’s death toll reaching nearly 800 people since Monday.
A nearly year-long exchange of fire between Israel and the Iran-backed Lebanese militia Hezbollah dramatically escalated this week as Israel launched a huge number of strikes into Lebanon.
Israel’s political and military leadership said the attacks are intended to destroy Hezbollah’s capabilities and prepare for a potential ground invasion.
Over 1,500 people had been killed in almost a year of cross-border violence between Hezbollah and the Israeli army, Lebanon said on Sep 26.
In Israel, at least 52 people have been killed as a direct result of attacks.
More than 70,000 people have been displaced by the fighting in northern Israel since October last year, while more than 110,000 have been displaced on the Lebanese side of the border.