Israel's president says there is more to come if the attacks continue, as the death toll from the Lebanon attack reaches 550.

• The escalation of hostilities between Israel and Iranian-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah has intensified after 12 months of cross-border strikes.
• At least 558 people, including 50 children, were killed and over 1,800 were injured in Israel's strikes on Monday, according to Lebanon's health ministry.
• Since the attack, Israel's air defenses have successfully intercepted most of the rockets fired by Hezbollah into northern Israel, with the remaining rockets landing in open areas.

Israel's President Isaac Herzog vowed to take additional military measures against Hezbollah following Israel's air raids in Lebanon, which resulted in the deaths of over 550 people, marking one of the country's deadliest days in nearly two decades.

The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has intensified after 12 months of attacks, increasing the risk of a full-scale war in the region.

Many Lebanese residents in the south are leaving their homes due to the bombardments, as they receive automated text messages and calls urging them to evacuate. The Israeli government has warned people in certain Lebanese areas to evacuate as it targets Hezbollah.

Herzog stated that Israel did not desire war when questioned about a potential full-scale ground operation in Lebanon.

According to Herzog, Israel was not interested in this war, did not want it, and has no intention of going to war with Lebanon.

"Israel has been under attack from Lebanon since October 8, with Hezbollah launching missiles and rockets throughout the northern part of the country. To bring our citizens back home and restore peace in our cities, we will take whatever necessary measures."

Herzog added, "We've demonstrated our abilities, and there's even more to come if they choose to continue."

Since the attack, Hezbollah has been firing rockets into northern Israel, with most of them landing in open areas or being intercepted by air defenses. On Saturday, the group launched over 100 missiles into northern Israel, injuring at least five people, according to Israeli authorities.

The pager and device detonation attack that killed 38 people, including some children, and injured more than 3,000 led to the strikes by Hezbollah, which claims Israel carried them out. Israel has not commented on the matter.

At least 558 people, including 50 children, were killed and over 1,800 were injured in Israel's strikes on Monday, according to Lebanon's health ministry.

The death toll on Monday surpassed both the daily casualties during the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah and the toll from the 2020 Port of Beirut explosion, making it the deadliest day in recent years.

During the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres cautioned member states about the potential for Lebanon to become another Gaza.

The escalation between Israel and Hezbollah in Gaza is a non-stop nightmare that threatens to take the entire region with it. All states should be alarmed by this escalation, as seen in Lebanon.

On Monday, President Joe Biden stated that the U.S. was attempting to de-escalate the situation, while the Pentagon affirmed its support for "Israel's right to self-defense" and disclosed that more U.S. troops were being deployed to the Middle East. Approximately 40,000 U.S. troops are currently stationed in the region.

Numerous individuals residing near the Israel-Lebanon border have been displaced due to the ongoing conflict. Israel's officials have pledged to allow evacuated residents from northern Israel to return to their homes.

Our top priority is to eliminate the danger on Israel's northern frontier, as stated by Herzog.

Some Israeli lawmakers have advocated for the re-entry into southern Lebanon, which was occupied by Israel from 1985 to 2000 during a time of intense sectarian violence. This occurred after Israeli territory was attacked by Palestinian militants based in Lebanon.

Herzog stated that reoccupying southern Lebanon was not the ultimate objective for Israel when asked about it.

The president stated that the Israeli government's stance on Lebanon and other territories remains unchanged, and he consistently emphasizes that they have no territorial aspirations or expectations.

"We do not possess territorial aspirations in Gaza, but as any nation in the world, we have the inherent right to live in peace and security, free from daily attacks by missiles, rockets, and terror."

Following the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas militants that killed some 1,200 people in Israel and took a further 253 hostages, 116 of whom have been freed, Israel launched its invasion of Gaza. Since then, Israel's assault on the blockaded enclave has killed more than 41,000 people in Gaza, according to Palestinian health authorities.