In less than 24 hours after the US-Iran ceasefire, Israel has carried out the largest coordinated attack against Lebanon since the beginning of the war. Israeli strikes hit densely populated residential and commercial areas in central Beirut and Dahieh during midday rush hour.

Lebanon’s Civil Defence said at least 254 people were killed and 1,165 others were wounded in the attacks on Wednesday, 8 April.

According to Lebanon’s Health Minister Rakan Nassereddine, hospitals across Lebanon are overcrowded with victims, and are appealing for blood donations in response to mass casualties.

The Israeli military referred to this coordinated attack as operation “Eternal Darkness”, claiming to target Hezbollah command centers. The Israeli military launched attacks on at least 48 areas, including on crowded residential neighbourhoods and civilian infrastructure, in the south of Lebanon, north of Lebanon, Mount Lebanon, Bekaa, Beirut suburbs and central Beirut. These strikes came just 10 minutes of issuing an evacuation order for the southern suburbs of Beirut and the city of Tyre.

Under international law, attacks on civilian infrastructure, including homes and bridges, are generally prohibited.

The Israeli military “carried out a surprise strike on hundreds of Hezbollah terrorists at command centres across Lebanon. This is the largest concentrated blow Hezbollah has suffered since Operation Beepers,” said the Israeli Defence...