As the conflict widens, Israel has warned Lebanon that it would face a “very heavy price” if it failed to restrain the Iran-aligned militia Hezbollah.
The warning came as Israeli forces carried out intense airstrikes on Hezbollah strongholds and launched a deadly airborne raid in eastern Lebanon.
By Saturday morning, additional buildings in Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs of Beirut had been reduced to piles of smoking rubble, dust and twisted wires, according to video footage. A toddler’s toy car could be seen lying overturned amid the debris.
The heavy bombardment followed an evacuation order issued to civilians in the area. Lebanon’s health ministry said the total death toll from Israeli strikes in the country since Monday has risen to 294.
According to Amir Saeid Iravani, the joint military campaign by the United States and Israel has killed at least 1,332 Iranian civilians and injured thousands more.
Iran’s retaliatory strikes have also caused casualties. Authorities say the attacks have killed 10 people in Israel, while at least six U.S. service members have also been reported dead.
