In the small middle eastern country of Lebanon, in the northern Levant and the successor of the formidable Phoenician Empire, air strikes led by Israel has killed nearly 500 civilians.

In addition, 1,650 people were reported to be injured from the attacks, and 100 women and children were found dead alongside their male adult counterparts.

The Israeli government, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, said that they did not intentionally inflict harm on Lebanon due to an immediate threat. "I want to clarify Israel’s policy: we do not wait for the threat, we are ahead of it," Netanyahu said.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military highlighted the strikes' importance in countering attacks from the anti-Israel group Hezbollah, which had stayed hidden in Lebanon.

This event marked the deadliest day of strikes since the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah War.

Secretary of Defense of the U.S. Lloyd Austin sent requests to the Israeli government to find some sort of diplomatic solution to the dilemma. Israel has yet to respond. Despite these calls, the U.S. is planning on sending more American troops to the region, according to Pentagon spokesperson Pat Ryder.