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Israeli attacks on Lebanon have killed more than 3,500 people over the last year, including 234 children, according to the country’s Ministry of Public Health.
At least 15,000 people were wounded in these attacks, the ministry said.
World leaders and the United Nations are urging a de-escalation of violence while civilians have been forced to flee southern and eastern Lebanon for safety.
On September 23, the Israeli army said it had launched more than 650 attacks on some 1,600 Hezbollah targets across Lebanon.
The attacks hit towns including Aitaroun, ad-Duwayr, Ghassanieh, Anqoun, Arab Salim, Baalbek, Babliyeh, Beit Shama, the Bekaa Valley, Bint Jbeil, Bodai, Deir Qatine, Douris, Ghaziyeh, Harbata, Haris, Hazerta, Houmin al-Faouqa, Hula, Iqlim al-Touffah, Iyat, Kawthariyeh al-Sayyad, Kfar Hatta, Libbaya, Majdal Selem, Marjayoun, Mazraat Sinai, Nabi Chit, Qlaileh, Saadnayel, Saal, Safri, Sarafand, Shmestar, Sohmor, Tarayya, Toura, Tyre, Younine and Zefta.
In retaliation, Hezbollah launched more than 200 rocket attacks. Some of those, including Fadi 1 and Fadi 2, were directed at Israeli airbases, including in Afula and Haifa.
The group claimed it had attacked the Megiddo airfield, west of Afula, the Ramat David airbase in Haifa, the Amos airbase and an explosives factory in Zikhron Ya’akov, 60km (37 miles) south of the border.
Since the escalation of hostilities between Israel and Lebanon on October 8, 2023, the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health has verified
The attacks have led to the deaths of 220 health sector workers and injured more than 326.
Understaffed and underresourced, the health system has been struggling to maintain uninterrupted services for all those in need, with supplies being depleted and health workers exhausted.
Lebanon, which lies on the Eastern Mediterranean, has a population of about 5.4 million people and is divided into nine governorates and 25 districts.
At 10,452sq km (4,036sq miles), Lebanon is about the size of Puerto Rico, Cyprus or The Gambia. The Middle Eastern country has some of the region’s highest peaks, including Qurnat as Sawda, which rises about 3,088 metres (10,131 feet) above sea level.
According to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED), Israel exchanged at least 10,214 attacks with Hezbollah and other armed groups in Lebanon from October 7 last year to September 20.
Israel has attacked Hezbollah at least four times more than the Lebanese group. About 81 percent of these attacks – 8,313 – were carried out by Israel, which killed at least 752 people in Lebanon.
Hezbollah and other armed groups were responsible for 1,901 attacks that killed at least 33 Israelis.
Israel holds the most advanced missiles in the Middle East, many produced domestically, but most of its precision-guided missiles are from the United States.
According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), much of Israel’s capabilities are short-range tactical systems, including the Popeye and Gabriel missiles, and Extra rockets. Among its long-range missiles are Jericho 2 and Jericho 3 ballistic missiles with ranges of 1,500-3,500km (930-2,175 miles) and 4,800-6,500km (3,000-4,000 miles), respectively.
Also, despite not officially acknowledging it, Israel is believed to possess at least 90 nuclear weapons.
To confront incoming rockets and missiles, Israel uses three integrated air defence systems: the Iron Dome (short-range), David’s Sling (medium-range) and Arrow (long-range).
The Iron Dome was originally billed as providing city-sized coverage against rockets with ranges of 4-70km (2.5-43 miles), but experts say it has been expanded.
David’s Sling, produced by Israeli weapons giant Rafael, can intercept rockets and missiles with a range of 40-300km (25-186 miles).
The Arrow series, led by the Arrow 3 interceptor, has an estimated fly-out range of up to 2,400km (1,491 miles).
Hezbollah is considered one of the world’s most heavily armed non-state actors, with an estimated rocket arsenal of 130,000, according to CSIS.
On October 19, Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies estimated that Hezbollah had 40,000 Grad-type missiles with a short range of 15-20km (9-12 miles).
A step up are 80,000 longer-range multiple-launch rocket systems, including the Fajr 3 and Fajr 5, with a range of 100km (62 miles).
Finally, there are about 30,000 Zelzal artillery rockets or Fateh-110 ballistic missiles with a range of 200-300km (124-186 miles) – the longest-range weapons in Hezbollah’s inventory, capable of reaching southern Israel.