Beirut, 23 September 2024 (dpa/MIA) - Lebanon's health minister said the death toll from Israeli airstrikes on the south of the country on Monday has risen to 274 people, including 21 children, with another 1,024 wounded.

These are the deadliest Israeli attacks on Lebanon since the last major war between Israel and the Iran-aligned Hezbollah militia in 2006.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said earlier Monday he was trying to "change the security balance" in the north of his country.

"I would like to clarify Israel's policy to whoever does not yet understand," he said at a security assessment at the Air Force operations centre.

"We are not waiting for the threat, we are pre-empting it – everywhere, in every sector, constantly. We are eliminating senior figures, terrorists and missiles – and our arm is still extended."

The Israeli army said it had attacked more than 300 targets linked to the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon.

Photo: MIA archive