Beirut, September 26 (RHC)-- Tens of thousands of people have fled southern Lebanon as Israel’s military continues intense artillery and missile attacks. 

Lebanon’s Health Ministry reports the death toll has climbed to at least 569 people, including 50 children. 

Meanwhile, Hezbollah launched dozens of drones and rockets at Israel, including a long-range missile fired toward Tel Aviv that was intercepted by Israeli air defense systems. Israeli public media is reporting that Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant is readying troops for a possible ground invasion into Lebanon. 

In Beirut, officials say they’ve secured shelters for 10,000 people displaced from southern Lebanon.  Some of the evacuees were forced into the same shelters they fled to nearly two decades ago during Israel’s July 2006 assault. 

Feryal Mehsen, a 58-year-old who narrowly survived a strike that destroyed her family home, spoke with reporters:  “The rocket landed in front of me. I was shocked. I couldn’t hear or see after that.  Dust was all over the place.  So I drove off quickly and headed to the upper road and kept going.  I lost my temper because of what happened. It took me 12 to 15 hours to reach Beirut from Aitat because of the traffic congestion.”