Lebanese Health Authorities confirmed on Thursday that the death toll from the ongoing Israeli offensive has reached 123, with over 680 others wounded since hostilities intensified on Monday.
The announcement comes as Israeli ground forces seized new strategic positions across the southern border and the Lebanese presidency issued a landmark decree to reassert state authority over military activity.
Casualties and displacement
According to the Ministry of Public Health’s Emergency Operations Center, the four-day surge in violence has resulted in at least 123 fatalities and 683 injuries.
Recent strikes have taken a heavy toll on civilians; a Western Bekaa air raid on a residence in Mashghara claimed four lives, including two young children.
In response to the mounting crisis, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam met with the Governor of Beirut to finalize preparations for additional emergency shelters.
The Prime Minister warned of a “looming humanitarian disaster”, as thousands of residents flee southward from the Litani River following Israeli evacuation orders.
Israel’s territorial advances
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have transitioned from aerial bombardment to localized ground incursions, reportedly establishing a “buffer zone” inside Lebanese territory.
- Kfarshouba & Al-Quzah: Israeli units entered the border town of Kfarshouba on Wednesday, establishing fortified observation points. In Al-Quzah, Israeli forces reportedly occupied a Lebanese Army outpost that had been previously vacated.
- Strategic positioning: Ground movements were also documented in Rob Thalathin, Mays al-Jabal, and Maroun al-Ras, as the IDF seeks to secure dominating terrain.
- Airstrike Blitz: Simultaneously, the Israeli Air Force conducted five strikes on Beirut’s Southern Suburbs (Dahiyeh) on Thursday evening, alongside raids between Brital and Al-Tayba in the Baalbek region.
A “sovereign and final” decree
Amid the chaos, President Joseph Aoun issued a pivotal sovereign declaration on Tuesday, asserting that the Lebanese state holds the “exclusive right” to decisions of war and peace.
“This is a sovereign and final decision with no reversal,” the President stated, effectively banning unauthorized military or security operations.
The decree follows a government-led ban on Hezbollah’s military activities, tasking the Lebanese Army with implementing the mandate across all national territory.
The move is seen by diplomats as a desperate attempt to restore Lebanese legitimacy and protect its sovereignty from being further eroded as the regional conflict between Israel and Iran marches on.
