Israel and Hezbollah engaged in further exchanges of fire on Tuesday, including an Israeli airstrike on Beirut, as the death toll from the escalating violence reached nearly 560. Thousands of people have fled southern Lebanon, with both sides nearing the brink of an all-out war. Displaced families have sought shelter in schools and parks, while others slept in their cars or by the seaside due to a lack of available accommodations.

Issa Baydoun, who fled the southern village of Shihine, described the struggle to find safety, rejecting Israel's claim that it was only targeting military sites. Meanwhile, volunteers in Beirut offered apartments and prepared meals for the displaced.

Hezbollah reported launching missiles at eight sites in Israel, including a factory in Zichron Yaakov, while Israel said it responded with airstrikes on Hezbollah targets. Israel also conducted a targeted strike in Beirut, which injured several people and destroyed part of an apartment building.

This renewed violence follows Monday’s bloodiest day in Lebanon since the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah. Israeli airstrikes aimed at Hezbollah sites spanned a vast area of southern Lebanon. Data from American satellites showed fires across over 1,700 square kilometers, including near UNIFIL's base in Naqoura.

The conflict escalated after months of rising tensions, with Hezbollah firing rockets in solidarity with Hamas. Israel has intensified its airstrikes, killing Hezbollah commanders and threatening broader operations. Thousands of Lebanese fled the south after Israeli warnings to evacuate. Lebanese officials report that the strikes have killed 558 people, including women and children, and injured over 1,800.

Despite Hezbollah's extensive missile arsenal, Israel has thus far avoided a ground invasion, though it has positioned troops along the border. Hezbollah has launched around 9,000 rockets and drones into Israel since last October, with Israel claiming it destroyed 1,600 Hezbollah targets in just one day.

As both sides prepare for the possibility of further escalation, a ceasefire remains elusive.

(Inputs from AP)