Lebanon says Israeli strikes kill 89, injure hundreds in major escalation

At least 89 people were killed and 722 others injured in Israeli attacks on Lebanon on Wednesday, the country’s health minister said, noting the figures are preliminary.

The Israeli army said it struck more than 100 sites “within 10 minutes” across Beirut, the Beqaa Valley and southern Lebanon, describing it as the largest coordinated wave of attacks since the start of the current offensive.

“We are facing a dangerous escalation that happened in Lebanon, an Israeli aggression with more than 100 airstrikes that targeted innocent civilians in Beirut, Dahiyeh, Bekaa, Mount Lebanon and the south,” Health Minister Rakan Nassereddine told Al Jazeera.

He said hospitals, ambulances and emergency aid centers were also targeted.

Nassereddine called for urgent international humanitarian assistance for Lebanon’s health system, adding that authorities are in contact with international organizations, including the World Health Organization, UNICEF and the UN Population Fund, to secure medical supplies, surgical equipment and medicines.

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported that 19 people were killed, 71 others wounded and dozens of buildings destroyed in Israeli airstrikes on Nabatieh Governorate in southern Lebanon. It was not immediately clear whether those casualties were included in the minister’s toll.

*Writing by Serdar Dincel​​​​​​​