Lebanon says nearly 9,000 killed in Israeli attacks since 2023 as casualty toll rises

Lebanese health authorities say Israeli attacks on Lebanon since October 2023 have killed 8,920 people and injured 30,595, in the latest official update on the war's human cost. The Lebanese Ministry of Public Health said the figures cover the period from October 2023 to September 2026. It said the toll includes 4,358 deaths and 12,359 injuries recorded since March 2, when Israel sharply intensified its campaign.

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The ministry also said there had been 179 attacks on ambulance crews since March 2, killing 135 healthcare workers. That figure points to the strain on emergency services in a conflict that has repeatedly hit civilian infrastructure and rescue teams. The same update said more than 179 attacks on ambulance crews had been recorded over that period, underscoring the scale of disruption to medical response in southern Lebanon and beyond.

The figures come amid continuing displacement and repeated strikes despite two US-brokered agreements signed in June. The UN refugee agency said 360,000 people remained displaced in August, including at least 22,000 in collective shelters. Lebanese authorities have also said Israel has maintained a military occupation in southern Lebanon since March, when it announced a buffer zone, while Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem rejected the June 26 framework agreement as null and void.

The casualty update is significant because it gives the clearest official picture yet of the war's cumulative impact on Lebanon. It also highlights how the conflict has widened beyond frontline exchanges to affect ambulance crews, hospitals and displaced communities. The figures are likely to intensify scrutiny of the humanitarian cost of the fighting and the durability of the ceasefire and framework arrangements cited by both sides.

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The latest numbers follow a series of strikes in southern Lebanon, including an Israeli air strike on Kfar Reman on Friday that killed three people and injured 23, according to the report. Lebanese state media also said raids and artillery shelling hit seven towns in the Tyre and Nabatieh districts, though no casualties were reported there. Early on Sunday, Israeli warplanes bombed Zawtar al-Sharqiyah in southern Lebanon, showing that the military campaign remains active.

What remains unclear is whether the latest casualty figures will be independently verified and how they compare with Israeli assessments of the campaign. It is also not yet clear whether the attacks on ambulance crews will prompt any new international response or changes on the ground. Further statements from Lebanese officials, Israeli authorities and mediators will be important to watch as the conflict continues.

Lebanon's health ministry says Israeli strikes across southern and eastern Lebanon overnight killed three people and injured 15, in the latest cross-border escalation involving Hezbollah. The strikes hit five locations across the Tyre district, Nabatieh and the Bekaa region, according to the ministry. One person was killed and 15 were injured in Ramadiyah in the southern Tyre district, while two others were killed in the Nabatieh region.

The Israeli military said it targeted Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon in response to what it described as an attempted drone attack on its troops the previous day. It said the strikes hit weapons storage facilities used by the Iran-backed group and released video footage that it said showed one of the attacks. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday that military operations to thwart terrorism were continuing with full force in Lebanon, Gaza and the West Bank.

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The updated toll is lower than an earlier figure of 23 injured reported in the existing article, and the latest supplied report puts the number of wounded at 15. The strikes also underline the continuing volatility along the Lebanon-Israel frontier, where both sides have traded fire since March. The supplied material says Hezbollah launched rocket attacks against Israel in retaliation for the killing of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, prompting renewed Israeli strikes and a ground invasion into Lebanon.

The incident matters because it shows how quickly localised military exchanges can widen into broader border conflict. Southern Lebanon has remained a focal point because of its proximity to the frontier and the presence of positions and infrastructure linked to Hezbollah. The supplied reports also say one strike landed in Ramadiyah, more than 10 kilometres from the Israeli border, indicating the reach of the operation beyond immediate border areas.

The latest strikes come against a backdrop of continuing damage and displacement in the south, where returning residents have faced insecurity and disrupted services. The supplied material says the fighting has continued despite truce efforts, and that Lebanese authorities have reported heavy losses since the conflict escalated. The Israeli side has framed its operations as aimed at preventing Hezbollah from rebuilding military capability near the border.

What remains unclear is whether Hezbollah will respond to the latest strikes and whether the attacks in Nabatieh, Tyre and Bekaa will affect any ongoing diplomatic efforts. It is also not yet clear whether the five locations were all linked to the same Israeli operation or whether separate targets were involved. Further statements from Lebanese officials, the Israeli military and any mediators will be important to watch as the situation develops.

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