BEIRUT/JERUSALEM, March 6 (Reuters) - Israel pounded Beirut's southern suburbs with airstrikes on Friday, ⁠stepping ⁠up a war with Hezbollah that has forced hundreds of thousands ⁠of Lebanese from their homes and killed more than 200, according to a health ministry toll.

The United Nations on Friday demanded swift investigations into fatal Israeli strikes across Lebanon to decide if they complied with international law.The Israeli military announced Friday that it had carried out 26 waves of strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs in the past four days.

Renewed fighting and sweeping evacuation orders in Lebanon have forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross, with many leaving on foot with few belongings and nowhere to go.

Israeli strikes have so far killed 217 people and wounded 798, according to the Lebanese health ministry. While Salam’s government urged host communities to accept refugees with open arms, it has also taken a hardline stance against Hizbollah.

When Israeli strikes began pummelling Beirut’s southern suburbs early on Monday, Sudanese refugee Ridina Muhammad and her family had no choice but to flee home on foot,

By Laila Bassam BEIRUT, March 5 (Reuters) - Hezbollah has deployed elite fighters to confront Israeli forces in southern Lebanon, sending them back into the border region from which they withdrew after a war in 2024,

The country is waiting to see if the government seizes on this moment to disarm the Iranian-backed armed group and how the militants will respond.

Lebanon is facing a rapidly escalating crisis. Tens of thousands have been forced to flee. Learn what's happening and how to help people in Lebanon right now.