51 killed in Lebanon as Israel vows 'severe blow' to Hezbollah
Israel struck Lebanon on Monday as Iranian counterattacks hit Gulf states and a British base in Cyprus. International gas prices rose and shares went down.
Several strikes hit south and east Lebanon and Beirut's southern suburbs after Israeli evacuation warnings. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad's armed wing said its commander in Lebanon was killed in the strikes.
The Lebanese government imposed an "immediate ban" on Hezbollah's military and security activities and called for it to hand over its weapons, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam announced.
Israel's military chief Eyal Zamir warned his country would strike "all terrorist leaders and factions" across the Middle East, vowing to deal a severe blow to Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.
"We will end this campaign with not just Iran being struck but with Hezbollah suffering a devastating blow," Zamir was quoted as saying in a military statement.
"Our message is clear and resonates throughout the Middle East: We will strike all terrorist leaders and factions who rise to harm us. We have proven this and will continue to prove it," he added.
- 52 killed, 154 wounded -
The strikes killed at least 52 people and wounded 154 on Monday, the Lebanese government said in an updated toll.
A previous toll shared by the health ministry said 31 people were killed and 149 wounded.
The bombings of southern and eastern Lebanon and Beirut's southern suburbs also displaced more than 28,500 people, according to the government's disaster and management unit.
- Israel army says struck more than 70 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon -
The Israeli military said on Monday it hit more than 70 Hezbollah targets including missile launchers in a wave of strikes against the Iran-backed armed group in southern Lebanon.
"As part of the strikes, more than 70 weapons storage facilities, launch sites, and missile launchers belonging to the Hezbollah terrorist organization were struck in a number of locations," a military statement said.
Source: Agence France Presse
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