ABNA24 - Israel has threatened to expand its military offensive in Lebanon as the death toll from ongoing strikes has surpassed 1,000, amid growing warnings on Monday of a widening conflict and potential war crimes.
Lebanon’s health ministry said at least 1,029 people have been martyred and 2,786 wounded since the escalation began on March 2, as Israeli occupation forces continue air and artillery strikes across the country, including residential areas and infrastructure in Beirut and southern Lebanon.
On the ground, Israeli strikes targeted multiple towns in the south, while key infrastructure was hit, including major bridges over the Litani River, disrupting civilian movement and humanitarian access. A strike on a home in the Tyre district killed one person and injured another.
Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir signaled a prolonged campaign, stating that operations would continue both offensively and defensively, while Hezbollah announced it had carried out 63 attacks within 24 hours, targeting Israeli positions up to seven kilometers deep.
The escalation has triggered a rapidly worsening humanitarian crisis, with estimates indicating that more than one million people have been displaced across Lebanon. Palestinian refugees in camps around Tyre have also been forced to flee amid ongoing strikes.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the attacks on civilian infrastructure as a violation of sovereignty and international law, warning that the destruction of bridges and vital facilities points to efforts to impose a buffer zone and could pave the way for a broader ground invasion.
Human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, warned that the expanding offensive and attacks on civilians raise serious concerns about potential war crimes, calling on the international community to act urgently.
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