Beirut (Web Desk/Agencies): Lebanon said Tuesday the death toll from Israeli bombardment a day earlier had risen to 558, including 50 children, in the deadliest day of violence since Hezbollah and Israel went to war in 2006.
According to international media reports quoting Lebanon’s health ministry, so far, 558 deaths have been recorded, including 50 children and 94 women," Health Minister Firass Abiad said, adding that "the vast majority, if not all of those killed in yesterday´s attacks were unarmed people in their homes."
This was the deadliest Israeli bombardment in Lebanon since the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah.
The year-long fighting between Israel and Hezbollah ignited by the Gaza war has claimed lives of hundreds of people besides leaving tens of thousands displaced.
Meanwhile, the United States has sent additional troops to the Middle East amid the growing crisis.
Lebanese media said the first wave of Israeli air strikes occurred at around 06:30 local time (03:30 GMT) on Monday.
“It was horrifying, the missiles flew over our heads. We woke up to the sound of bombings, we didn’t expect this,” a victim was quoted as having said.
The Israeli forces targeted various districts including Sidon, Marjayoun, Nabatieh, Bint Jbeil, Tyre, Jezzine and Zahrani in the air strikes.
Meanwhile, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa has called for an urgent action by international community to stop Israeli aggression in occupied territory.
Addressing the UN's Summit of Future in New York, he said the international community must act urgently to stop Israeli aggression on our people and bring an end to its illegal occupation, in line with international law and relevant UN resolutions.
Russia issued a warning on Tuesday, stating that Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon could lead to significant destabilisation in West Asia and escalate the ongoing conflict.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on a conference call that “this is an event that is potentially extremely dangerous when it comes to the expansion of the conflict, to the complete destabilization of the region.”
In a separate statement, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Russia calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities, adding that “It is urgent to stop the spiral of violence before the situation spirals completely out of control.”
“We must do everything possible to prevent West Asia from plunging into a full-scale armed conflict, the devastating consequences of which will inevitably affect everyone in the region and beyond. We are ready to coordinate with international and regional partners to prevent such a catastrophic scenario," Zakharova added.
China's top diplomat Wang Yi expressed support for Lebanon and condemned what he termed "indiscriminate attacks against civilians", Beijing's foreign ministry said on Tuesday.
Meeting his Lebanese counterpart in New York, Wang said: "We pay close attention to developments in the region, especially the recent explosion of communications equipment in Lebanon, and firmly oppose indiscriminate attacks against civilians."
On the other hand, the Pentagon on Monday stated that the United States (US) is sending a small number of additional troops to the Middle East given escalating tensions between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah.
"Out of an abundance of caution, we are sending a small number of additional US military personnel forward to augment our forces that are already in the region," Air Force Major General Patrick Ryder, a Pentagon spokesperson, told reporters.
It is pertinent to note that Israel’s military offensive in the Gaza Strip has killed at least 41,467 Palestinians and wounded 95,921 since October 7, the Palestinian enclave’s health ministry said in a statement.
The toll includes 12 deaths in the previous 24 hours, the statement added.