Israeli attacks kill 34 more people in Lebanon, death toll nears 2,100

Lebanon’s Health Ministry said Monday that 34 more people were killed and 174 others wounded in Israeli strikes over the past 24 hours.

In a statement, the ministry said the new fatalities brought the death toll since March 2 to 2,089, with 6,762 others injured.

The victims include 252 women and 166 children, while 1,132 and 648 others were injured, respectively, it added.

The Israeli army has expanded its air and ground offensive across Lebanon since a cross-border attack by Hezbollah on March 2, despite a ceasefire deal that took effect in November 2024.

The escalation comes amid regional tensions resulting from a US-Israeli offensive on Iran that has killed more than 3,300 people since Feb. 28.

Washington and Tehran held their first face-to-face talks in Pakistan on Saturday aimed at resolving their conflict, but the negotiations ended without an agreement.

Lebanon and Israel are set to hold their first meeting on April 14 in Washington to secure a ceasefire and launch direct talks.

Israel occupies areas in southern Lebanon, some for decades and others since the previous conflict between October 2023 and November the following year.

*Writing by Rasa Evrensel in Istanbul