Lebanon massacre: 254 dead, Iran threatens "severe response"

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Photo: AP
Israel has carried out its most violent attacks in Lebanon in decades. Hospitals are overwhelmed, Qatar has condemned the "barbaric massacres," and the ceasefire is on the verge of collapse.

The death toll from devastating Israeli attacks on Lebanon has risen to 254, with at least 1,165 people injured, the country's Civil Protection Service said.

The attacks have caused a complete collapse of the already weakened healthcare system, while the situation on the ground is worsening by the hour.

Hospitals overwhelmed, country on edge

The UN humanitarian coordinator in Lebanon, Imran Riza, warned that the country does not have the capacity to deal with the scale of the attacks.

"Many of these attacks are happening in very densely populated areas... sometimes there are evacuation orders and sometimes there aren't," Riza said, adding that such a situation creates "a sense of fear and panic" among the population.

According to reports from the field, hospitals are overflowing with the wounded, while fear and chaos are spreading among civilians in many parts of the country.

The most violent attacks so far

The Israeli military carried out one of the most intense waves of airstrikes since the beginning of the conflict.

According to the Israel Defense Forces, more than 100 targets were hit in just ten minutes, including Beirut, the Bekaa Valley and southern Lebanon.

The targets were Hezbollah command centers and military infrastructure, while Israel claims that many of these facilities are located within civilian areas.

Beirut hardest hit

The data shows the extent of the destruction across the country.

The highest number of casualties was recorded in Beirut, where 92 people were killed and 742 injured.

In the southern suburbs of the capital, 61 people were killed and 200 were injured, while dozens of dead and injured were also recorded in other parts of Lebanon - including Baalbek, Nabatieh and Tyre, world media reported.

Iran threatens: "A response that will be regretted will follow"

The attacks provoked a sharp reaction from Tehran.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards have warned that a "regrettable response" will follow if the attacks on Lebanon do not stop immediately.

"If the aggression does not stop, we will fulfill our duty and deal a heavy blow to the aggressors," the message, carried by the BBC, said.

Iranian officials further warn that they consider any attack on Hezbollah an attack on Iran.

International condemnation of the attack

Israel's attacks have provoked strong reactions in the international community.

Qatar condemned what it said was a "brutal series of airstrikes" and called them "barbaric massacres and repeated attacks on Lebanon," the Guardian reports.

A statement from the country's Foreign Ministry said it was a "dangerous escalation and flagrant violation of Lebanon's sovereignty, international humanitarian law and UN Security Council resolutions."

They called on the international community to put pressure on Israel and stop the attacks.

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