Israel kills 254 in Lebanon's deadliest day, defying Iran ceasefire
Last updated: 04:47 UTC, April 09 2026 | Started: 2026-04-09 04:47 | 1 update(s) | Avg confidence: 85/100
The story so far: The 2026 Lebanon war began on March 2 when Hezbollah launched strikes on Israel in response to a joint US-Israeli military campaign against Iran that started on February 28 and killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Israel responded with airstrikes across Lebanon and began ground operations in the south on March 16, targeting Hezbollah strongholds. The conflict is a major escalation of hostilities that had persisted since October 2023, when cross-border fighting resumed alongside the Gaza war, despite a November 2024 ceasefire that both sides repeatedly violated.
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2026-04-09 04:47 — Israel kills 254 in Lebanon's deadliest day, defying Iran ceasefire
Israel struck more than 100 targets across Lebanon within ten minutes on April 8, killing at least 254 people and wounding 1,165, in what the IDF called 'Operation Eternal Darkness' — its largest coordinated strike of the 2026 war. Lebanese Civil Defence spokesperson Elie Khairallah confirmed the toll to ABC News.
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What We Know
- Israel struck more than 100 targets across Lebanon within ten minutes on April 8, killing at least 254 people and wounding 1,165, in what the IDF called 'Operation Eternal Darkness' — its largest coordinated strike of the 2026 war. Lebanese Civil Defence spokesperson Elie Khairallah confirmed the toll to ABC News.
- The operation involved fifty Israeli Air Force fighter jets and approximately 160 munitions, hitting at least five neighbourhoods in central and coastal Beirut without prior warning, including the Corniche al-Mazraa commercial and residential area where AP journalists reported charred bodies on the street. Lebanon's National News Agency confirmed the strikes.
- The attacks came hours after Pakistan-mediated ceasefire talks produced a two-week US-Iran truce. Prime Minister Netanyahu immediately rejected claims the deal covered Lebanon, saying Israel would 'continue to strike' Hezbollah; US Vice President Vance and President Trump corroborated that Lebanon was not included. French President Macron publicly disagreed, saying Lebanon was 'fully included.'
- Iran responded by halting oil tanker passage through the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iran's state news agency Fars, and threatened to attack Israel if strikes on Lebanon were not stopped immediately. Iran's parliament speaker also declared US-Iran ceasefire negotiations 'unreasonable,' citing the Lebanon strikes as a key violation.
- The Israeli ground invasion — begun on March 16 — has now displaced more than 1.2 million people, approximately 22 percent of Lebanon's population, according to UN data as of late March 2026, while Israeli evacuation orders now cover roughly 14 to 15 percent of Lebanese territory, per the Norwegian Refugee Council and Reuters.
Still Unclear
- Pakistani government statement via Reuters; Emmanuel Macron post on X, reported by Al Jazeera and NBC News: Pakistan, which mediated the US-Iran ceasefire, said Lebanon was included in the truce deal, and French President Emmanuel Macron said Lebanon was 'fully included' after speaking with both Trump and Iranian President Pezeshkian.
Netanyahu press conference (Al Jazeera/ABC); Trump on PBS NewsHour; Vance speaking to reporters in Budapest (ABC News): Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, US President Trump, and Vice President Vance all stated Lebanon was not included in the ceasefire deal because of Hezbollah.
- Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz video statement; IDF official release, reported by Al Jazeera and Bloomberg: The IDF said all strikes targeted Hezbollah assets — headquarters, intelligence centres, missile infrastructure, Radwan Force sites — and that steps were taken to mitigate civilian harm.
Dr. Tania Baban, MedGlobal (NBC News); Lebanese Health Minister Rakan Nassereddine (Al Jazeera); Lebanese PM Nawaf Salam statement: Aid workers, Lebanese officials, and international observers said the strikes were not targeted and hit dense civilian areas with no warning; MedGlobal's Lebanon director called them 'an open war crime.'
- (Unverified — state media only — independent confirmation of full Hormuz closure and scope of tanker halt not yet corroborated by Tier-1 wire agencies) Iranian state media reported that Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz in direct response to the April 8 Israeli strikes on Lebanon. [Iranian state media Fars News Agency, reported by ABC7 and Wikipedia]
- (Unverified — single source for Hezbollah figure; IDF figure unverified by independent monitor) Internal Hezbollah sources said over 400 Hezbollah fighters had been killed in the 2026 Lebanon war, while the IDF claimed approximately 1,000 fighters killed. [Wikipedia citing Hezbollah internal sources and IDF]
Key Figures
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|
| Killed in April 8 Israel strikes on Lebanon | 254 killed | Lebanese Civil Defence spokesperson Elie Khairallah, confirmed to ABC News |
| Wounded in April 8 Israel strikes on Lebanon | 1,165 wounded | Lebanese Civil Defence, reported by Al Jazeera and ABC News |
| Total killed in Lebanon since March 2, 2026 (cumulative war toll) | Over 1,530 killed; 4,639+ wounded | Lebanon's Ministry of Public Health, as of April 7, 2026 (Al Jazeera) |
| People displaced in Lebanon since March 2, 2026 | More than 1.2 million (approx. 22% of population) | UN data as of late March 2026, reported by Al Jazeera |
| Targets struck by Israel within 10 minutes on April 8 | 100+ targets | Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz statement; IDF official release |
| Israeli fighter jets involved in April 8 operation | 50 jets, approx. 160 munitions | Wikipedia citing IDF figures, corroborated by Al Jazeera |
| Lebanese territory under Israeli evacuation orders | ~14–15% of Lebanese territory (1,470 sq km) | Norwegian Refugee Council; Reuters |
| Israeli soldiers killed in 2026 Lebanon war | 11 soldiers | OPB/AP report, April 8, 2026 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Israel launch massive strikes on Lebanon while a ceasefire was being declared?
Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu insisted the US-Iran ceasefire does not cover Lebanon or Hezbollah. Israel launched Operation Eternal Darkness hours after the truce announcement, saying it was continuing its separate campaign against Hezbollah. Trump and Vance confirmed Lebanon was excluded from the deal; France and Pakistan disputed this.
How many people have been killed and displaced in the 2026 Lebanon war?
As of April 8, at least 1,530 people have been killed and over 4,639 wounded since March 2, per Lebanon's Ministry of Public Health. More than 1.2 million people — roughly 22% of Lebanon's population — have been displaced, ranking among the world's top 10 displacement crises in recent years, according to Al Jazeera and the Norwegian Refugee Council.
What happens next — could the Iran ceasefire collapse because of Lebanon?
Iran's parliament speaker called ceasefire negotiations 'unreasonable' following the April 8 strikes, citing Lebanon as a key violation. Iran also reportedly halted oil tanker passage through the Strait of Hormuz in response. Hezbollah's lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah warned Reuters there would be 'repercussions for the entire agreement' if Israeli strikes continued, threatening the two-week truce.
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