In brief
In an unexpected turn of events, Israel executed a large-scale aerial assault on Lebanon shortly after a ceasefire was announced by US President Donald Trump. The attack, described as one of the heaviest strikes since the beginning of hostilities last month, has resulted in at least 203 fatalities and over 1,000 injuries, eliciting condemnation from various countries while the US has not criticized its ally. As tensions rise and civilian casualties mount, local authorities are grappling with the aftermath of the attack amidst ongoing regional conflicts.
The guns were supposed to have fallen silent.
It was, after all, just hours after US President Donald Trump had announced that a two-week ceasefire had been agreed to halt the war in the Middle East.
But just as the region was breathing a sigh of relief, Israeli jets conducted a 10-minute blitz across Lebanon - a massive aerial attack that killed at least 203 people and wounded more than 1,000 others, according to Lebanon's health ministry.
Local and Western condemnation was swift and widespread, but no criticism came from the US against its ally in this war.
Iran said this was a grave violation of the ceasefire deal and has asked the US to halt the Israeli aggression. Lebanese officials say more than 1,700 people have been killed since Israel launched its latest campaign in Lebanon last month. Israel has stated its operations are aimed at weakening Hezbollah and achieving its military objectives.
The war began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran on 28 February, prompting retaliation from Tehran against US allies in the Gulf, and from Iran's proxies - Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen - against Israel.
In a surprising escalation, it was around 14:00 in Beirut when the skies darkened as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) completed a substantial coordinated strike across Lebanon, reportedly targeting over 100 Hezbollah locations.
On Thursday, the Israeli operations continued, claiming to have killed numerous terrorists including key figures associated with Hezbollah. Amidst this chaos, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam announced a day of national mourning for civilians who were targeted in the attacks.
As search and recovery operations continue, the local population confronts a new reality of violence, raising questions about the long-term strategy of the Israeli government and the continued cycle of conflict in the region.
