Israeli strikes across Lebanon on Tuesday killed more than 20 people. Six died in a central Beirut apartment building1 — not in Dahieh, the Southern Suburb where Hezbollah's infrastructure is based, but in the city centre. During the 2006 war, Israeli air strikes on Beirut were largely confined to Dahieh. Tuesday's attack crossed that geographic boundary.
Lebanon's cumulative death toll has reached approximately 968, up from 912–921 the day before. Since 2 March, the country has averaged roughly 57 deaths per day — exceeding the 2006 war's rate of 35 per day across 34 days. Displacement has passed 1,049,000, including more than 300,000 children. The 2006 war displaced approximately one million across its full duration; this conflict passed that figure in seventeen days.
The destruction of the last Litani River bridges on the same day sealed the civilian population of southern Lebanon into an active combat zone. Two Israeli armoured divisions are operating south of the river, and Israel has stated its intention to seize all territory below the Litani. During the 1982–2000 occupation, the Litani marked the northern boundary of the security zone. The same geography now forms a closed perimeter with no major road north.
ACLED has counted 565 Hezbollah attack waves against Israel since 2 March2 — the war runs in both directions. But the civilian toll does not: Israel's cumulative dead stand at 17; Lebanon's approach a thousand.
