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‎‎Lebanese Health Ministry announces the death toll of the Israeli aggression: 2,294 martyrs and the systematic targeting of medics‎

‎Dama Post, ‎‎2026/04/18

‎On Friday, ‎‎the Lebanese Ministry of Health‎‎ issued a detailed report revealing the cumulative toll of the victims of the Israeli aggression on Lebanon, documenting the extent of the horrific human losses and the direct targeting of the health sector during the past period.‎

‎Statistics of the victims of the aggression (since March 2 to April 16, 2026)‎

‎According to the Public Health Emergency Operations Center statement, the "initial" cumulative figures are as follows:‎

‎Total Martyrs:‎‎ 2,294 Martyrs.‎

‎Total wounded:‎‎ 7,544 wounded.‎

‎Note:‎‎ The Ministry confirmed that this toll is likely to rise as the operations to remove the rubble and recover the bodies from the destroyed sites continue.‎

‎Targeting medical staff and paramedics‎

‎The ‎‎Lebanese Ministry of Health‎‎ report revealed an organized war crime that targeted the Lebanese health system to paralyze its ability to rescue the wounded, as the toll among the medical staff reached the following:‎

‎Martyrs among paramedics:‎‎ 100 martyrs.‎

‎Wounded health workers:‎‎ 233 injured.‎

‎Documentation challenges:‎‎ The ministry explained that the final identification of some of the victims requires DNA ‎‎tests‎‎ due to the intensity of the Israeli shelling that led to the mutilation of the bodies.‎

‎Field context: 46 days of confrontation and response‎

‎This report comes at a time when the Lebanese front has witnessed an unprecedented escalation since March 2, 2026, as ‎‎the Islamic Resistance‎‎ has confronted the aggression through:‎

‎Zero-Distance Clashes:‎‎ The fighters fought heroic epics in the areas of (Khayyam, Taybeh, and Bint Jbeil).‎

‎Targeting depth:‎‎ Carrying out qualitative operations against settlements and military barracks in northern occupied Palestine.‎

‎Vehicle ambushes:‎‎ Destroying a number of Merkava tanks and targeting the gatherings of the occupation soldiers at the front edge of the border.‎

‎Summary of the situation‎

‎As the technical teams work to remove the rubble in the stricken villages and cities, the scale of the destruction and casualties shows the extent of the brutality of the Israeli aggression, which did not exclude civilians or medical personnel, amid local praise for the resilience of the health sector despite the direct targeting.‎

الصحة اللبنانية تعلن حصيلة شهداء العدوان الإسرائيلي - داما بوست

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‎Lebanon. Tens of thousands of displaced people return to the south and Beirut suburbs ‎

‎‎Sayda (Sidon, South Lebanon, April 17, 2026

By Waseem Safiyuddeen / Anatolia‎

‎After the ceasefire agreement with Israel came into effect at midnight last night‎

‎Traffic jams observed on roads from Beirut and Mount Lebanon towards villages and towns in the South‎

‎The Israeli army has warned the Lebanese not to head to areas south of the Litani River.‎

‎Tens of thousands of displaced Lebanese began returning to the Beirut suburb and villages and towns in the south of the country at dawn on Friday following the entry into force of the ceasefire agreement.‎

‎Anadolu correspondent observed a heavy return movement of tens of thousands of displaced people from areas north of Beirut to its southern suburbs, where the roads leading to the area witnessed suffocating congestion.‎

‎There was also heavy traffic on the roads extending from Beirut and Mount Lebanon towards the southern regions of the country, especially on the coastal road leading to the cities of Sayda (Sidon) and Soor (Tyre).‎

‎The convoys of cars heading to the city of Tyre stretched from Al-Qasimiya Bridge (which connects the area between the south and north of the Litani River) to the town of Adloun in the district of Saida in the southern governorate, amid severe traffic jams that have been ongoing for hours.‎

‎The area witnessed the deployment of Lebanese army elements to regulate traffic, and efforts by municipalities to rehabilitate roads, in conjunction with the partial restoration of the Qasimia Bridge, after the Israeli army bombed it for the second time on Thursday.‎

‎This bridge was the last corridor connecting the district of Saida to the areas south of the Litani River, thus increasing the number of destroyed bridges connecting the north and south of the Litani River to 8 since the beginning of the Israeli aggression on March 2.‎

‎In this context, work is underway to prepare an additional crossing through the old bridge known as the "Bridge of Metonyons", in addition to providing the area with temporary ferries across the Litani River to facilitate the passage of citizens.‎

‎Israeli violations‎

‎On the other hand, the Lebanese Armed Forces Command called on citizens to wait to return to the southern areas, in light of the recording of violations of the agreement, including Israeli attacks and intermittent shelling of a number of villages.‎

‎In a statement, the command stressed the need for citizens to adhere to the directives of the deployed military units, especially during the night hours, and to avoid approaching dangerous areas, noting that it will continue to follow up on developments and take the necessary measures to maintain the safety of civilians.‎

‎Israel Warning‎

‎The Israeli army issued a warning to the Lebanese not to head to areas south of the Litani River.‎

‎Army spokesman Avichai Adrei said in a statement that with the entry into force of the ceasefire agreement, the army continues to be stationed in its positions in southern Lebanon in the face of what he claims is "the ongoing activities of Hezbollah."‎

‎He added: "In the interest of your safety and the safety of your family members, and until further notice, you are requested not to move south of the Litani River."‎

‎The ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel came into effect as of midnight local time for the two countries at 21:00 GMT, for 10 days.‎

‎On Thursday evening, US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire in Lebanon for 10 days starting at midnight on Thursday/Friday Tel Aviv and Beirut time.‎

‎Since March 2, Israel has been waging an aggression against Lebanon, leaving 2,196 dead, 7,185 wounded, and more than one million displaced, according to the latest official data.‎

‎Israel occupies areas in southern Lebanon, some for decades and others since the previous war between October 2023 and November of the following year.‎

‎On March 9, President Joseph Aoun announced an initiative that includes a truce to stop Israeli aggressions, start direct negotiations with Israel under international auspices, provide necessary logistical support to the Lebanese army, and confiscate Hezbollah's weapons, which the latter rejects.‎

لبنان.. عشرات آلاف النازحين يعودون إلى الجنوب وضاحية بيروت

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Israeli occupation forces establish a “yellow line” in southern Lebanon, just like they did in Gaza

Saturday 18-April-2026

LEBANON, (PIC)

The Israeli occupation army announced on Saturday that it established a “yellow line” in southern Lebanon, similar to the line it had set up in the Gaza Strip, claiming it targeted gunmen who attempted to approach its forces along this line.

The Israeli occupation army claimed that during the past 24 hours, its forces stationed in the south of the yellow line in southern Lebanon spotted armed men as they violated the ceasefire agreement and approached an area north of the yellow line in a way that posed a direct threat.

This marked the first Israeli mention of this line in Lebanon since the ceasefire started.

The Israeli occupation army asserted that it is authorized to act against threats despite the ceasefire.

Earlier, CNN quoted Israeli military officials as saying that Tel Aviv would prevent Lebanese citizens from returning to 55 towns and villages located within this zone.

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An epic battle of Bint Jubail: Hezbollah fighters stand their ground

Al-Mayadeen, April 14, 2026

Fierce confrontations continue in Bint Jubail as Lebanese Resistance fighters engage Israeli forces in close-quarters combat.

Fierce confrontations are ongoing in Bint Jubail as Lebanese Resistance fighters engage Israeli occupation forces from the elite units in intense close-range combat on the outskirts of the town’s old market, Al-Mayadeen’s correspondent in southern Lebanon reported on Tuesday.

The fighting, described as fierce and sustained, rages on despite relentless airstrikes, artillery shelling, and a siege, yet Israeli troops have so far failed to achieve a decisive breakthrough.

Field reports confirm that occupation troops have been unable to reach key positions inside the town, including the municipal stadium, a symbolic site from which martyr Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah declared that "Israel" is "frailer than a spider’s web" following the liberation of South Lebanon on May 25, 2000.

Israeli force walks into well-planned ambush

Reporting on ongoing battles in Bint Jubail, our correspondent later revealed that an Israeli occupation force walked into a well-planned ambush by the Resistance in the southern Lebanese city.

In detail, Hezbollah's Resistance fighters led the Israeli unit into a house before detonating the building with the soldiers inside, turning the structure into a deadly trap.

This incident is believed to be the "security incident" Israeli media reported on earlier.

Our correspondent further reported that until the moment of the report, the Israeli occupation military had failed to reach any key point in Bint Jubail, and had, in fact, restricted its movements and reduced the number of deployed personnel and vehicles to limit its casualties.

Instead, it is deliberately relying on unmanned, remotely controlled vehicles to probe the capabilities and positions of the Resistance fighters. 

Rising casualties

Meanwhile, Israeli media reported that the commander of Battalion 52 was seriously injured today in battles in Bint Jubail, southern Lebanon.

Moreover, a "very large number" of wounded Israeli occupation soldiers are suffering from limb injuries from battles in Lebanon, along with other types of injuries. 

Throughout the day, Israeli army helicopters have been landing at hospitals carrying wounded soldiers from the front in Lebanon, Israeli media reported.

10 soldiers from Battalion 101 of the Paratroopers Brigade were reportedly wounded overnight during close-quarters combat with Islamic Resistance fighters within the town.

According to the same sources, three of the wounded soldiers are in critical condition. The casualties were evacuated to hospitals, with some transported urgently by military helicopters while others were transferred by ground.

Bint Jubail, the capital of Resistance in South Lebanon

Bint Jubail, a key city in southern Lebanon near the Israeli border, holds significant strategic importance due to its location overlooking multiple access routes into the border region.

Bint Jubail overlooks key routes linking Maroun El-Ras to Tibneen, forming a main north–south corridor between the border and inland areas. It also connects westward to Aitaroun and Rmeish along roads running parallel to the frontier.

To the northeast, it links into the wider road network toward Soor (Tyre), making it an important logistics and movement hub. Its elevated terrain also provides oversight of nearby cross-border approach routes, enhancing its strategic value.

Control of the town provides operational depth and influence over nearby villages, making it a recurring focal point in confrontations between Israeli forces and Lebanese resistance groups.

Strategic weight

Beyond its military relevance, Bint Jubail carries strong symbolic weight. It has long been referred to as the “capital of the Resistance,” reflecting its role in shaping narratives of defiance and resilience. 

Historically, Bint Jbeil’s association with resistance dates back to the French Mandate period. On June 11, 1936, protests erupted in the town during what became known as the tobacco revolt, after French forces opened fire on demonstrators. The incident marked an early chapter in the town’s legacy of organized opposition.

During the Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon from June 6, 1982, to May 24, 2000, Bint Jubail became a central site of armed resistance activity. The town witnessed repeated operations against Israeli forces and their allies, reinforcing its position as a stronghold for resistance operations in the region.

Additionally, the town's municipality stadium, a center of focus in the current battles, bore witness to martyr Sayyid Hasan Nasrallah's May 25, 2000 speech, in which he declared "Israel" to be "frailer than a spider's web" following the expulsion of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon and ending its occupation.

The town’s modern symbolic status was cemented during the July 2006 war, particularly in the Battle of Bint Jubail, where intense fighting took place between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. The confrontation became one of the most high-profile engagements of the war and was widely portrayed as a defining moment by both sides.

Today, Bint Jubeil remains both a strategic objective and a symbolic prize in any escalation along the Lebanon-"Israel" frontier. Its history, geography, and political significance continue to ensure its central role in ongoing tensions in the region.