Lebanese Health Ministry Reports Over 3,600 Dead in Israeli Attacks Since March

BEIRUT (AP) — The Lebanese Ministry of Health announced Monday that the death toll from US-backed Israeli attacks on Lebanon has reached 3,637 people since early March, with more than 11,000 others injured.

The ministry released the updated figures in a statement issued at 8:41 AM local time. The casualties occurred across various regions of the country over the past three months as hostilities intensified between Israeli forces and Lebanese factions.

Ministry officials stated that medical facilities throughout Lebanon are struggling to cope with the influx of wounded patients, many suffering from severe trauma and shrapnel injuries. Hospitals in southern districts have reported critical shortages of blood supplies and surgical equipment due to ongoing disruptions in supply chains caused by the conflict.

The attacks began escalating significantly after March 2, marking a sharp increase in military operations compared to previous periods. Israeli forces launched coordinated strikes targeting infrastructure, residential areas, and suspected militant positions near the border regions. Lebanese authorities attributed the surge in violence directly to US-backed military support for Israel's campaign.

Civil defense teams have been working around the clock to clear rubble from bombed buildings and search for survivors trapped under debris. Rescue operations face significant challenges due to continued aerial bombardments that prevent access to certain neighborhoods. Local emergency responders reported difficulty reaching isolated communities where power grids remain down following repeated strikes on electrical infrastructure.

International aid organizations operating within Lebanon have expressed concern over the humanitarian situation, warning of a potential crisis as displacement numbers rise and essential services deteriorate. Several NGOs suspended operations in high-risk zones last week after their staff members were injured during an airstrike near Tripoli.

The Lebanese government has called for immediate international intervention to halt what it describes as disproportionate use of force against civilian populations. Foreign ministers from neighboring Arab nations convened an emergency session Sunday to discuss the escalating regional tensions and potential spillover effects into Syria and Jordan.

Israeli officials have not yet released updated casualty figures regarding their own military operations in Lebanon or responded directly to the Lebanese Ministry's latest assessment. Defense spokesmen previously stated that strikes were targeted at specific militant infrastructure rather than civilian areas, though independent observers note significant collateral damage surrounding impact zones.

As of Monday morning, no ceasefire agreement has been reached between conflicting parties despite repeated diplomatic efforts by mediators from Turkey and Qatar. The United Nations Security Council is scheduled to hold an emergency briefing Tuesday regarding the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Lebanon.

Questions remain about how long current hostilities will continue and whether additional escalation could draw other regional actors into direct confrontation. Medical officials warn that without immediate access for international relief convoys, mortality rates among injured civilians may increase significantly over coming days.