Welcome to the news hour. It is the deadliest day in the Middle East since the

October 7th terror attacks. Lebanese authorities say Israeli airstrikes killed

nearly 500 people and wounded more than 1,600.

Israel said it struck 1,100 targets where Iran-backed Hezbollah hid weapons in Lebanon,

including thousands of rockets and missiles, and a stash often fired at Israel.

The tensions have led the US Defense Department to send additional troops to the region.

Nick Schifron starts our coverage. In towns across southern and eastern Lebanon today at more than a thousand sites, an

avalanche of air strikes.

Lebanese across the region said today felt like the beginning of war.

Thousands of families fled, cramming everyone they could fit into every vehicle they could find,

even though shattered by shrapnel.

Strikes, warplanes, destruction.

No one is left there. Everyone has fled. We took our belongings and left.

Since October 8th Hezbollah has fired thousands of rockets into Israel including yesterday outside Israel's third largest city. of towns. I promised that we would change the security balance, the balance of power in the north. That is exactly what we are doing. We're destroying thousands of missiles and rockets directed at Israeli

cities and Israeli citizens.

And Israel expanded its targets today warning residents to leave any homes with weapons

in the Becca Valley where Hezbollah was founded decades ago near the border with Syria.

We advise civilians from Lebanese villages located in and next to buildings and areas used by Hezbollah for military purpose such as those

used to store weapons to immediately move out of harm's way for their own safety.

Israel said the targets were Hezbollah, but Lebanese officials say Israel also struck hospitals,

medical centers, and other civilian infrastructure.

It is a dangerous violent escalation.

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