By Middle East Correspondent
LONDON, (The Muslim News): At least 34 civilians were killed and 174 wounded in Israeli strikes across Lebanon over the past 24 hours, the country’s Health Ministry said on Monday, as regional violence continues to escalate.
In a statement, the ministry said the latest casualties bring civilians killed by Israel since March 2 to 2,089, with 6,762 others injured. The victims include 252 women and 166 children, while more than 1,700 others from these groups have also been wounded.
The Israeli military has expanded its air and ground offensive across Lebanon despite a ceasefire agreement that had been in place since November 2024. Israel continues to occupy areas in southern Lebanon, some held for decades and others seized during fighting between October 2023 and November the following year.
The escalation comes against a backdrop of widening regional conflict, including a US-Israeli illegal attacks on Iran that has killed more than 3,300 civilians since February 28.
Military developments and battlefield dynamics
On Monday, the Israeli army said eight of its soldiers were wounded in southern Lebanon after an explosives-laden drone struck their position. Two soldiers were moderately injured, while six sustained light wounds. The military also reported intercepting more than 10 drones launched from Lebanon towards northern Israel and Israeli forces operating in the south.
Fighting remains particularly intense around the southern Lebanese small border town of roughly 9 km² Bint Jbeil, a long-standing flashpoint.
Despite sustained bombardment and air superiority, Israeli forces have yet to secure a decisive breakthrough, with Hezbollah fighters engaging in what analysts describe as a war of attrition.
The town holds symbolic importance due to its association with former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who once described Israel as “weaker than a spider’s web” in a speech there. Israeli forces previously entered parts of Bint Jbeil during the 2006 Lebanon War but failed to consolidate control—a pattern observers say may be repeating.
Diplomatic efforts and political tensions
Diplomatic efforts to contain the conflict remain fragile. The United States and Iran held their first direct talks in Pakistan on Saturday, but negotiations ended without agreement.
Meanwhile, Lebanon and Israel are scheduled to hold talks in Washington on April 14 aimed at securing a ceasefire and launching direct negotiations. The planned meeting has sparked internal divisions within Lebanon.
Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem urged Lebanese leaders to cancel the talks, warning that engagement with Israel would constitute a “dangerous concession” and insisting that armed resistance remains the only effective deterrent.
Gaza six Palestinians killed by Israel despite ceasefire
In Gaza Strip, violence has persisted despite a ceasefire in place since October 2025. Medical sources said at least six Palestinians were killed and several others wounded on Monday in Israeli attacks across the enclave.
Strikes were reported in Deir al-Balah, Rafah, Khan Younis and Gaza City, including drone attacks targeting civilians in areas outside agreed military zones.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, at least 754 Palestinians have been killed and 2,100 injured in near-daily violations of the ceasefire. The truce followed more than two years of war that has killed over 72,300 Palestinians and devastated most of the enclave’s infrastructure.
Al-Aqsa tensions escalate as Israeli settlers enter Al-Alqsa compound
Separately, tensions rose in East Jerusalem after more than 200 Israeli settlers entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound under police protection.
Palestinian officials said 215 individuals, led by a rabbi, performed religious rituals at the site, describing the move as a “blatant violation” and part of broader efforts to alter the status quo at one of Islam’s holiest sites.
Maritime tensions and Iran warning
In the Gulf, tensions have also escalated following a US naval blockade targeting vessels linked to Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global transit route.
Ship-tracking data showed at least two tankers reversing course after approaching the strait, while analysts reported that around 150 vessels have passed through since March 1, many linked to sanctions violations.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warned that any threat to the strait would have “broad consequences for global trade,” while reaffirming Tehran’s commitment to diplomacy within international legal frameworks.
During a call with Emmanuel Macron, Pezeshkian said negotiations had faltered due to “maximalist demands” from Washington, despite progress at technical levels.
UN calls for restraint
The United Nations has urged all parties to de-escalate. Spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is pressing for continued diplomatic engagement and strict adherence to ceasefire agreements.
“An agreement cannot be reached overnight,” Dujarric said, stressing that violations must cease and international law, including freedom of navigation, must be respected.
[Photo: Ali Abbud, who lost three family members in simultaneous Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon on April 8, takes part in the search and rescue operations in hopes that his sister Zehra will be rescued from the rubble of a building hit in Beirut, Lebanon on April 12, 2026. Photojournalist: Houssam Shbaro/AA]
