The death toll in Lebanon has risen to 4,047 amid ongoing ceasefire violations by Israel
A week following the implementation of a tenuous ceasefire in Lebanon, health officials have reported that the death toll resulting from Israel's military offensive has climbed to 4,047. Authorities suspect, however, that the actual number of casualties could be significantly higher.
Lebanese Health Minister Firass Abiad announced on Wednesday that the official figures have tallied 4,047 fatalities and 16,638 injuries to date.
According to reports, the recent incursion by Israeli forces into the country has resulted in the loss of 316 children and 790 women among the victims.
He noted that the actual figure could potentially be higher, attributing this to fatalities that have not been documented.
Monday marked the most lethal day in Lebanon since the Nov. 26 ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, as airstrikes from the regime resulted in at least 11 fatalities in southern Lebanon.
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has reported that the Israeli military has violated the ceasefire agreement roughly 100 times since last Wednesday.
The United States and France, key facilitators in brokering the agreement, issued stern warnings to the Israeli government regarding any potential breaches of the ceasefire.
Israel has issued a warning to Lebanon, with the Minister of Military Affairs, Israel Katz, stating on Tuesday that should the ceasefire with Hezbollah fail, the Israeli military is prepared to conduct airstrikes further into Lebanese territory.
Later in the day, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported, referencing an unnamed government source, that Beirut plans to bolster its military presence in the south by recruiting an additional 6,000 soldiers. The initiative is set to commence with the enlistment of 1,500 troops in the first phase.
A recent agreement concluded an almost 70-day Israeli military operation by mandating an immediate cessation of Israeli activities within Lebanon and requiring Israeli forces to withdraw from southern Lebanon within a 60-day timeframe.
