At least 492 people were killed and over 1,600 injured in Lebanon early Monday as the Israeli military expanded its campaign against Hezbollah, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health.

Among the deceased were 35 children and 58 women, the ministry said.

The Israel Defense Forces said they struck at least 800 targets in southern Lebanon on Monday morning.

In a statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed they were changing “the security balance, the balance of power in the North.”

"For those who have not yet understood, I want to clarify Israel's policy -- we do not wait for a threat, we anticipate it. Everywhere, in every arena, at any time," Netanyahu said. "We eliminate senior officials, eliminate terrorists, eliminate missiles -- and our hands are bent."

"Whoever tries to hurt us, we hurt him even more," he added.

Hezbollah senior commander Ali Karaki, who was targeted in Monday’s strike on Beirut, survived the attack, Hezbollah officials said.

Two senior Israeli sources confirmed to ABC News that Karaki had been the target of the strike.

At least six people were injured Monday in an Israeli strike on southern Beirut, according to Lebanese state media.

The Israel Defense Forces conducted the targeted missile strike on a residential building in Bir al-Abd, a southern suburb of Beirut.

The U.S. is sending "a small number" of additional troops to the Middle East amid growing tensions in the region, Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder announced Monday.

"In light of increased tension in the Middle East, and out of an abundance of caution, we are sending a small number of additional U.S. military personnel forward to augment our forces that are already in the region," Ryder said.

He would not give additional details on the size or nature of these additional forces, citing operational security concerns.