Israel Strikes Lebanon Amid Iran Ceasefire, UN Condemns Mass Casualties

Just hours after a two-week ceasefire was brokered between the United States and Iran, Israel launched its most intense wave of strikes on Lebanon since the conflict with Hezbollah began last month. The scale of the assault drew immediate international condemnation, with the United Nations calling the reported death toll "appalling" and warning that the attacks could destabilize an already fragile peace.

Lebanon's civil defense authorities confirmed that at least 254 people were killed as Israeli forces struck multiple locations across the country, including Beirut, the Bekaa Valley, and southern Lebanon. The Israeli military stated it had targeted over 100 Hezbollah command centers and military installations, framing the operation as a necessary strike against the Iran-aligned militant group.

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk issued a strong statement condemning the attacks, describing the scale of killing and destruction as "nothing short of horrific." A UN Human Rights team deployed to one of the strike sites in the Lebanese capital reported widespread devastation and multiple fatalities among the rubble. Turk emphasized that launching such a large-scale offensive immediately after agreeing to a ceasefire with Iran puts enormous strain on regional stability and civilian lives.

Among the most alarming incidents, an overnight Israeli strike near Hiram Hospital in Al-Aabbassiye, close to Tyre, reportedly killed four people and caused significant damage to the medical facility. A separate attack struck an Islamic Health Authority ambulance in Qlaileh, killing three more. Turk stressed that under international humanitarian law, civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected at all times, and called for prompt, independent investigations into all alleged violations.

The strikes came even as Hezbollah had temporarily halted its attacks on northern Israel and Israeli troops in compliance with the ceasefire agreement, raising urgent questions about the path forward toward lasting peace in the region.