At least 492 killed in Israeli strikes on Lebanon
At least 492 people were killed and over 1,600 injured in Lebanon early Monday as the Israeli military expanded its campaign against Hezbollah, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health.
Among the deceased were 35 children and 58 women, the ministry said.
The Israel Defense Forces said they struck at least 800 targets in southern Lebanon on Monday morning.
In a statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed they were changing “the security balance, the balance of power in the North.”
"For those who have not yet understood, I want to clarify Israel's policy -- we do not wait for a threat, we anticipate it. Everywhere, in every arena, at any time," Netanyahu said. "We eliminate senior officials, eliminate terrorists, eliminate missiles -- and our hands are bent."
"Whoever tries to hurt us, we hurt him even more," he added.