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Israel launched its largest coordinated strike on Lebanon since the start of Operation Roaring Lion on Wednesday, hitting more than 100 targets, which the Israeli army claims are Hezbollah command centers and military sites across Beirut, the Bekaa Valley, and southern Lebanon within 10 minutes.
Lebanon's Health Minister Rakan Nassereddine said hundreds of people had been killed and wounded, hours after the U.S.-Iran ceasefire was announced and while Hezbollah had halted its own attacks on Israel.
The Israeli military announced the operation on X.
"Within 10 minutes and across multiple areas simultaneously: The Israeli army completed the largest coordinated strike targeting more than 100 Hezbollah command centers and military sites," the statement said, noting targeted areas included Beirut, the Bekaa Valley and southern Lebanon.
"Most of the infrastructure that was struck was located within the heart of the civilian population," the Israeli army said, blaming Hezbollah for using Lebanese civilians as human shields and adding that "steps were taken to mitigate harm to uninvolved individuals as much as possible."
Israeli military chief Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said Israel would not stop.
"We will continue striking the Hezbollah terror organisation and will utilise every operational opportunity. We will not compromise the security of the residents of northern Israel. We will continue to strike with determination," Zamir said.
The strikes caused panic across Beirut during the afternoon rush hour, with simultaneous hits landing without warning, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP) journalists.
Plumes of black smoke rose over several neighborhoods. People on the streets began running and motorists honked to clear the way.
"I saw the blast, it was very strong, and there were children killed, some with their hands cut off," Yasser Abdallah, who works in an appliance store in central Beirut, told AFP.
One of the strikes hit Corniche al-Mazraa, one of the capital's main roads. An AFP photographer saw widespread damage, buildings ablaze and destroyed cars.
"A plane struck, and people started running left and right, and smoke was billowing from the targeted building," witness Ali Younes said.
A series of strikes hit at least five neighborhoods in the heart and along the coast of Beirut, Lebanon's National News Agency reported.
Israel also struck Beirut's southern suburbs and southern Lebanon, after issuing evacuation warnings for those areas.
Lebanon's Health Ministry issued an emergency statement as rescue operations were paralyzed by the scale of the strikes.
"We are urgently calling on citizens to clear the way for ambulances so they can carry out their work. The traffic congestion caused by the unprecedented wave of airstrikes launched by the Israeli enemy is hindering rescue efforts," the ministry said.
Lebanon’s prime minister says Israel continues expanding attacks on populated residential neighborhoods, killing unarmed civilians across the country, particularly in Beirut.
Hundreds killed, wounded across Lebanon due to Israeli strikes on Wednesday, official news agency reports, citing the health minister.
At least eight people were killed in an Israeli strike on the coastal city of Sidon on Wednesday, Lebanese media reported. Lebanese authorities said at least 1,530 people have been killed and 4,812 others injured in Israeli attacks since March 2.
There was no immediate comment from Hezbollah on the Israeli military's claims.
Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee issued a new "urgent warning" to residents in parts of the southern Lebanese city of Tyre to flee their homes, urging them to "evacuate at once and move north toward the Al-Zahrani River."
Sources close to Hezbollah told Reuters the group had halted attacks on Israeli troops and territory since the U.S.-Iran ceasefire announcement in the early hours of Wednesday.
Hezbollah was expected to issue a formal statement on its position on the ceasefire and Netanyahu's assertion that Lebanon is excluded from it, the sources said.
Israel stopped its strikes on Iran following the ceasefire, with the Israeli army stating: "In accordance with directives from the political echelon, the Israeli army has ceased fire in the campaign against Iran and is at high alert for defence, ready to respond to any violation."
But operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon continued without pause.
Pakistani mediators had said the ceasefire covers Lebanon. Netanyahu has maintained it does not.
Iran's 10-point proposal, which both Washington and Tehran say forms the basis of upcoming negotiations, includes a call for the cessation of all hostilities in the region, including Israel's war in Lebanon.
Israel has indicated no willingness to slow its offensive, after which it has vowed to occupy a significant portion of southern Lebanon.
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