Israeli airstrikes cause thousands of casualties in one day, Lebanon declares national mourning

Xinhua News Agency, Beirut, April 8 (Reporter Shen Feng, Cao Changhao) After the ceasefire between Iran and the United States, Israel launched a large-scale airstrike on Lebanon on the 8th, resulting in thousands of casualties. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam announced that April 9 would be a national day of mourning to commemorate the innocent civilians who lost their lives in the Israeli airstrikes.

The Lebanese National News Agency reported Salam's words, stating that at that time, all public administrative departments, institutions, and municipal departments would be closed, and flags would be flown at half-mast in mourning. He also expressed condolences to the families of the victims.

Salam emphasized that he would continue to maintain contact with leaders of Arab countries and international officials, mobilizing all political and diplomatic efforts to stop the Israeli attacks.

The Israel Defense Forces stated that afternoon that the Israeli military conducted airstrikes within 10 minutes on over 100 Hezbollah command centers and military targets in the capital Beirut, the eastern Bekaa Valley, and southern Lebanon. This was the largest airstrike in Lebanon since Israel launched military operations against Iran on February 28.

Salam pointed out that the Israeli airstrikes hit "peaceful, unarmed civilians." Videos and photos from the scene after the airstrikes showed that many residential buildings and businesses had been reduced to rubble.

According to reports from the Lebanese Civil Defense, the large-scale airstrikes launched by Israel across Lebanon that day resulted in at least 254 deaths and 1,165 injuries. This marked the highest number of casualties in a single day in Lebanon since the resurgence of hostilities between Lebanon and Israel in early March.

The U.S. government and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that the ceasefire agreement with Iran does not include Lebanon. The Iranian side stated that due to Israel's airstrikes on Lebanon, violating the ceasefire agreement, the Strait of Hormuz has been closed again. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi stated that achieving a ceasefire in Lebanon is one of the key conditions for the ceasefire proposed by Iran.

Leaders of European countries such as Spain and France condemned Israel's airstrikes on Lebanon and called for the ceasefire agreement to include Lebanon.