Israel launches 100 air strikes across Lebanon, killing 361
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · May 5
Israel launches 100 air strikes across Lebanon, killing 361
12 articles · Updated · BBC.com · May 5
The 8 April attacks injured more than 1,000 people, hitting Beirut's Hay el Sellom, Corniche al Mazraa, Sidon and other areas within about 10 minutes.
Lebanese authorities said many victims were civilians; more than 80 died in Hay el Sellom, including at least 15 children, while 16 were killed in central Beirut's first strike of the war.
Israel said it targeted Hezbollah sites and 250 operatives, but gave few specifics; the strikes followed Hezbollah rocket fire and became known in Lebanon as Black Wednesday.
After the conflict's deadliest day, can Lebanon's government actually disarm Hezbollah and reclaim its sovereignty?
With UNIFIL's planned exit and a fragile truce, is an even larger war in Lebanon now inevitable?
Operation Eternal Darkness and Beyond: The Humanitarian Catastrophe of Israel's 2026 Lebanon Campaign
Overview
In 2026, the assassination of Iran's Supreme Leader triggered Hezbollah to launch missile attacks on Israel, prompting a severe Israeli military response. On April 8, Israel launched Operation Eternal Darkness, striking over 100 Hezbollah sites in Lebanon, causing hundreds of deaths, widespread destruction, and massive displacement. Despite heavy Israeli bombardment, Hezbollah's use of underground tunnels and advanced drones allowed it to sustain attacks, escalating the conflict into a prolonged ground invasion. The fighting devastated Lebanon's infrastructure and displaced over a million people, deepening a humanitarian crisis. Fragile ceasefires repeatedly collapsed amid ongoing hostilities, while regional tensions rose with Iran closing the Strait of Hormuz, threatening broader instability and global economic disruption.