Live Updates: Lebanon death toll rises as Israel weighs response to Iran's attack

The death toll in Lebanon since Oct. 8, 2023 has surpassed 2,000 people, with more than 1,000 of those killed since Israel began to escalate its attacks in late September.

Meanwhile, Iran and the rest of the world await Israel’s avowed response to Iran’s launching of nearly 200 ballistic missiles at Israel on Tuesday night. Israel is weighing possible responses to the attack, including attacking Iran’s oil facilities. On Friday, President Joe Biden said Israel had not yet decided on a response, but told reporters "If I were in those shoes, I'd be thinking about other alternatives than striking oil fields."

In southern Lebanon, the Israeli army has continued a ground invasion it began on Monday, the first such operation in 18 years. Israel says its ground operation is “limited” and aimed to clear Hezbollah militants from the area between its border and the Litani River. Reports from Israel’s Channel 12 news agency on Friday said that Israel aimed to keep its ground presence in Lebanon limited to two to three weeks, yet concern is growing over a possible prolonged invasion.

The invasion coincides with extensive Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon targeting Hezbollah commanders and infrastructure. Heavy airstrikes hit Hezbollah’s stronghold in the southern suburbs of Beirut around midnight on Thursday, reportedly targeting Hashem Safieddine, the potential successor of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah who was killed last Friday in a similar strike in Dahiyeh. The Israeli army and Hezbollah have yet to comment on the reports of Safieddine’s targeting.