Lebanon: Over 1 million displaced in two weeks
Over 1 million people have been registered as internally displaced in Lebanon due to Israeli strikes since March 2, according to authorities.
Since March 2, more than 1 million individuals have been registered as internally displaced in Lebanon, as reported by the government. By Monday afternoon, the number of names recorded on the authorities' website reached 1,049,238. Almost 130,000 of these internally displaced persons have been distributed across 600 collective shelters, highlighting the significant humanitarian crisis unfolding in the country.
On the same day, the health department indicated that at least 866 people, including 111 children and 39 health workers, have been killed in Israeli strikes since March 2. The violence escalated when the Iran-backed Lebanese militia Hezbollah fired rockets into Israel on March 2, prompting Israel to launch large-scale air attacks followed by ground operations in Lebanon. This retaliatory cycle has further deteriorated the security situation in the region.
There are no reports of Israeli casualties from the Hezbollah attacks, which Hezbollah has framed both as retaliation for the assassination of Iran's top leader and as defensive measures following a year fraught with breaches of the ceasefire by Israel. This ongoing conflict emphasizes the precarious conditions for civilians caught in the crossfire and raises concerns over the potential for further escalation between these regional powers.