Israeli air strikes targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon killed 492 people on Monday, the Lebanese health ministry said, in one of the deadliest days in the war weary Mediterranean nation's history.
The dead include 35 children and 58 women, the ministry added, while over 1,645 were wounded.
The air attacks sent residents of south Lebanon fleeing for safety northward as some public schools were turned into shelters.
"Air Force fighter jets have attacked ... about 800 Hezbollah terrorist targets in southern Lebanon and in the Bekaa area deep in Lebanon in several waves of attacks throughout the day," the Israeli air force said in a post on X.
"The IDF attacked buildings where Hezbollah hid rockets, missiles, launchers, unmanned aerial vehicles and other military infrastructure," it said, adding that it aimed to destroy the group's "capabilities and infrastructure".
For its part, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for rocket attacks targeting Israeli military sites and the Israeli military said over a million civilians were forced to seek shelter in the third-largest city Haifa.
Around 165 rockets and other projectiles launched by Hezbollah have crossed into Israel since this morning, the Israeli military added, though no casualties have yet been reported.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday warned of difficult days ahead, urging unity among Israelis and for Lebanese to heed Israeli evacuation orders.
"For too long, Hezbollah has been using you as human shields", he said in a video message on X directed at the Lebanese people.
"To defend our people against Hezbollah strikes, we must take out these weapons ... The IDF has urged you to get out of harm's way. I urge you - take this warning seriously."
Israel last week updated the aims of its nearly one-year-old war against Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon to include returning tens of thousands of civilians evacuated from its northern border to their homes.
Starting on Tuesday, two back-to-back days of explosions hit communication devices held by Hezbollah fighters and on Friday an air strike killed senior members from the group while they were meeting in southern Beirut, in attacks which killed scores.
Hundreds of others, including Iran's ambassador to Lebanon, were left maimed and in hospital.
Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani condemned the killing of "hundreds of defenseless people", in comments on the ministry's official Telegram channel.
"We strongly condemn the silence and support of the US and some Western states to the Zionist regime and warn against the continuation of the regime's crimes against Palestinians and its attempt to expand war to the entire region," Kanaani said. "There will be dangerous consequences for the Zionists' new adventure."
Major General Hossein Salami, the commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said last week that the so-called Axis of Resistance grouping of Islamist militias Tehran leads in the region would punish Israel for the attacks.
But an Israeli military official, speaking on condition of anonymity to the Associated Press, said the Jewish state had no immediate plans for a ground incursion and that the aerial bombardments were aimed at curbing Hezbollah's ability to fire rockets.
The United Nations has urged against a further escalation of hostilities as its special coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert touched down in Israel on Monday.
"There is no military solution that will make either side safer. With the wellbeing of civilians on both sides of the Blue Line and the stability of the region at stake, space must be given for diplomatic efforts to succeed," she said in a statement, referring to the Israel-Lebanon border.
The Jihad missile system was officially unveiled for the first time on Saturday, introducing a new launch platform for liquid-fueled missiles, according to Iranian government media and IRGC sources.
According to the IRGC-affiliated Tasnim website, it is a ballistic missile with a range of 1,000 kilometers, featuring a dual-missile launcher that distinguishes it from other Iranian liquid-fueled missiles.
Tasnim stated, "A glance at the Jihad missile reveals that it is an optimized version of the Qiam missile, whose range was previously increased from 800 kilometers to 1,000 kilometers, and its warhead became guided."
The Qiam missile, Iran's first liquid-fueled missile without fins, was introduced in 2010 with an initial range of 800 kilometers. Its design modification for fin removal allowed for launch from various missile silos. Subsequent enhancements included the replacement of the standard triple-cone warhead with a detachable, guided variant, improving accuracy to within 50 meters, according to Tasnim.
In October 2018, images from an operation revealed the Qiam missile with newly added small fins to enhance its flight profile. By 2021, the Ministry of Defense reported further advancements in the Qiam missile, achieving a range of 1,000 kilometers and marking the emergence of what the IRGC says is a new generation.
According to Tasnim, the Jihad missile is equipped with a warhead weighing approximately 600 kilograms and travels at speeds exceeding eight times the speed of sound. It employs a different launch platform, enabling the simultaneous launch of two missiles, thus enhancing operational efficiency despite the longer preparation time typically associated with liquid-fueled missiles.
Although the Islamic Republic has made continuous advancements in its ballistic missile program, it is not possible to independently verify claims of developing advanced weapons. Around 350 missiles and drones launched against Israel in April, 99% were intercepted by Israeli air defenses and allied warplanes.
Following the introduction of the Kheibar-Shekan and Martyr Haj Qasem missiles, Tasnim reported that a new generation of Iranian ballistic missile launch platforms has also become operational. This platform, used in the Fattah missile, is equipped with the DRU (Precise Navigation System), providing highly accurate positioning data. "This enables rapid firing immediately after deployment, along with swift closure and exit capabilities," the report added.
Iran's missile program has generated ongoing concerns among Western nations, particularly the United States and its allies, as Iran invests heavily in developing various ballistic and cruise missiles. The advancements in missile technology have raised alarms about potential threats to regional stability, especially regarding Iran's backing of non-state actors and militant groups.
The potential development of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) has prompted calls for tighter controls over Iran's missile program.
In response to the tensions, the United States and its allies have imposed sanctions targeting Iran's missile development, aiming to restrict access to materials and technologies that could enhance missile capabilities.
New sanctions were recently implemented against Iran and its state airline, Iran Air, following allegations of missile deliveries to Russia.
Despite international scrutiny, Iran maintains its right to develop missile capabilities, framing it as a matter of national sovereignty.
“The policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran has always been to resist the unilateralism of the United States and generally the Western countries, who pursue their own excessive demands and continue their colonial policies in a new form. This will remain our policy moving forward,” Araghchi was quoted as saying by IRNA, the official government news website.
Araghchi, who was deeply involved in Iran’s nuclear talks with the West a decade ago and in 2021, was appointed foreign minister in the new government of President Masoud Pezeshkian in August. The President, during his election campaign and upon assuming office, referred to a policy of engagement with the West, initially raising hopes that Tehran might be willing to adopt a more pragmatic foreign policy.
Araghchi, condemning attacks against Tehran’s ally and proxy, the Lebanese Hezbollah this week, made it clear that the Iranian delegation will focus on a diplomatic campaign against Jerusalem.
“In this situation, it is natural that the most important topic in our meetings on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, as well as in the sessions held by the Non-Aligned Movement, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, BRICS, ECO, and others, will be…the criminal actions of the Zionist regime, which must be confronted by the international community,” Araghchi stated. He went on to say that “It is natural that the crimes of the Zionist regime, especially those committed in the past few days, will be the main topic of these discussions.”
While the explosion of thousands of Hezbollah communication devices, which killed scores and seriously wounded hundreds of militiamen and commanders, has shocked the world, Tehran has so far refrained from issuing any specific threats against Israel. Additionally, more than 50 days after the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, Iran has not launched a military retaliatory strike, possibly indicating the government's reluctance to escalate the conflict further.
On Saturday, President Pezeshkian declared during a military parade that “Iran's defensive power and deterrence capabilities have grown to such a level that no evil force would even dare to entertain the thought of aggression against the country.” He was speaking during ceremonies on the 44th anniversary of Iraq’s invasion of Iran that led to a bloody and destructive 8-year war between the two countries.
However, his reference to Iran’s deterrence power contrasted with many incidents of bombings and sabotage since mid-2020 targeting Iran’s nuclear program and military and strategic installations, widely believed to have been launched by Israel. The latest incident was Haniyeh’s killing in Tehran while he was a high-level government guest. The incident led to debates even in government-controlled media in Tehran about serious security breaches and veiled accusations against security and intelligence organs.
In a message of condolence to Hezbollah's Hassan Nasrallah, Araghchi said, "As I arrive in New York to attend the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, I consider it my Islamic and humanitarian duty to be the resounding voice of justice for the heroic people of Palestine and Lebanon against the criminal and aggressive Zionist regime."
However, Araghchi, echoing other statements by other Iranian officials, indicated a cautious approach to the issue of responding to Israel. “Regarding Lebanon's issues, it is natural that Hezbollah will make its own decisions and respond appropriately. Other matters will be addressed as the situation requires. The assassination of martyr Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran will not go unanswered.”