Death toll from Israeli strikes on Lebanon passes 3,000, officials say
Lebanon's health ministry officials say the death toll from Israeli strikes since March has now passed 3,000. The figure marks a grim milestone in the conflict between Israel and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, despite a nominal ceasefire being in place.
Lebanese health-ministry officials say the cumulative death toll from Israeli strikes since March has now passed 3,000. Officials say the figure covers small children, women and the elderly, with a significant share of the casualties occurring in civilian areas of border towns in the country's south.
The data come as a US-brokered ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel — extended twice in recent weeks — remains nominally in place. The US State Department repeated that maintaining the ceasefire is in the interest of both parties. According to the BBC, independent verification organisations say the figures are based primarily on Lebanese health-ministry data.
Lebanon's economy continues to absorb the structural shocks of the conflict. The Beirut government has stepped up contacts with European capitals over EU and Gulf aid packages and called for an expanded United Nations humanitarian corridor mechanism. UNRWA said the number of displaced people in the border zones has now passed 600,000.
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