Israel kills at least 274 in Lebanon and orders thousands to flee their homes

Massive Israeli air strikes on residential towns in southern and eastern Lebanon killed at least 274 people on Monday, in what has been Lebanon's bloodiest day for decades.

At least 21 children, 39 women and two emergency responders were among the dead, Lebanon's health minister said, adding that more than 1,024 others were wounded.

In response to the bombardment, Hezbollah fired rockets at military targets in northern Israel and illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank.

Over the weekend, an Israeli minister called for the “Shia enemy population” of south Lebanon to be expelled and a buffer zone created on the border.