Beirut, April 8 (Petra) – Hundreds of people were killed or wounded on Wednesday when Israel launched dozens of airstrikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut and villages and towns in Southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley, Lebanese Health Minister Rakan Nasser al-Din said.

He said the sudden and simultaneous air raids left hundreds dead or wounded across Lebanon, as hospitals declared a state of emergency and called on people to donate blood and stay indoors unless absolutely necessary to allow ambulances access.

The Lebanese Red Cross reported that hundreds of ambulances were working to transport the victims to medical centers.

A Lebanese source said the largest number of casualties was in several areas of Beirut as aircraft struck during rush hours.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Lebanon welcomed the agreement between Iran and the United States and stepped up its efforts to reach a ceasefire, but Israel continued to expand attacks, targeting populated residential areas.

He said Israeli attacks resulted in the deaths of innocent civilians across Lebanon, particularly in Beirut, and called on the international community to take all available means to stop the attacks.

//Petra//SS