Lebanon death toll in Israel-Hezbollah war exceeds 3,000: Lebanese officials

The death toll in Lebanon has risen to over 3,000, the country's health ministry said this week, amid ongoing fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.

On Monday, Lebanon's Health Ministry reported the new death toll in the 13-month conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, noting that at least 13,492 others were injured.

War between Israel and Hezbollah

Hezbollah began firing rockets into northern Israel the day after Hamas' surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which sparked the current conflict in Gaza. Both Hezbollah and Hamas are allied with Iran.

On September 23, the conflict sharply escalated when Israeli airstrikes targeted the south and east of Lebanon, as well as southern suburbs of Beirut. The escalation claimed hundreds of lives and forced almost 1.2 million people to flee their homes.

Israel launched a ground invasion of southern Lebanon on October 1, causing extensive destruction in border villages, although troops made only limited progress deeper into Lebanese territory.

Hezbollah attacks killed 72 people in Israel, including 30 soldiers.

Israel launched dozens of airstrikes in northeast Lebanon last week, killing at least 52 people, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. Palestinians have also recovered the bodies of more than two dozen people killed in an Israeli airstrike in central Gaza that began Thursday, according to local hospital officials.

US support for Israel

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced Friday that the U.S. is sending more bomber aircraft and Navy warships to the Middle East to bolster the American military's presence in the region.

Four U.S. and defense officials who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity said Austin ordered the deployment of several B-52 Stratofortress bombers, tankers and Navy destroyers.

In a statement, Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said the deployments were “consistent with our commitments to protect U.S. citizens and forces in the Middle East, defend Israel, and de-escalate through deterrence and diplomacy.”

Tensions in the Middle East

In recent months, tensions have remained high in the Middle East following the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas militants. In the first Hamas attack on Israel, around 1,200 Israelis were killed and hundreds more were taken hostage. Israel's attacks on Gaza have since killed over 43,000 Palestinians, according to local health authorities. At least 2,897 more people were reportedly killed in Lebanon, not including Friday's death toll.

In addition, Israel recently launched an attack on Iran after attacking Israel a week earlier.

Iran has vowed to launch further attacks on Israel in response to the retaliatory strikes, although an Iran expert recently stated this Newsweek that a response may ultimately be delayed or canceled.

This article contains reporting from The Associated Press.