Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon have claimed the lives of at least 40 people, including two children, as intense bombardment continued across southern Beirut and other regions, Lebanese authorities confirmed on Saturday. The strikes, which started late Friday, targeted key Hezbollah strongholds, leaving destruction and loss of life in their wake.
According to Lebanon’s Health Ministry, at least seven people were killed in the coastal city of Tyre late on Friday, with additional casualties reported in nearby areas. The ministry stated that the victims included civilians and medics, with 13 people confirmed dead on Saturday alone, including seven members of rescue teams linked to Hezbollah and its ally Amal. More casualties were reported in the eastern plains around Baalbek, where at least 20 individuals were killed, bringing the total death toll to 40.
In the aftermath of the strikes, Lebanese authorities are working to identify the dead, with body parts retrieved from the wreckage set to undergo DNA testing. Rescue operations are ongoing, as families in the impacted regions continue to search for survivors and retrieve belongings from the wreckage of their homes.
The Israeli military has defended its actions, claiming that the strikes were aimed at Hezbollah infrastructure, including weapons stores, operational apartments, and fighters in the regions of Tyre and Baalbek. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) stated that their operations are part of ongoing efforts to target Hezbollah’s military capabilities in Lebanon, which has been in conflict with Israel since October 2023.
This latest wave of violence follows months of escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, which intensified following rocket and drone attacks by the group on Israeli targets. The conflict has already claimed thousands of lives on both sides, with more than 3,100 people killed and nearly 14,000 wounded in Lebanon alone since the conflict began. Among the casualties, 619 women and 194 children are reported.
The attacks have had a devastating impact on civilian infrastructure in Lebanon. In southern Beirut’s southern suburbs, once a bustling area now reduced to rubble, Hezbollah’s flags remain visible amidst the debris. Many buildings were flattened, with others partially collapsed, leaving residents scavenging through the destruction to recover whatever they could salvage. “We are trying to gather as many (of our possessions) as we can, so we can manage to live off them, nothing more,” said Hassan Hannawi, one of the residents combing through the rubble.
Hezbollah’s involvement in the conflict with Israel has escalated since late September, with the group launching numerous operations against Israel, including attacks on military factories. On Saturday, the group announced more than 20 new operations, highlighting the continuing violence and volatility in the region.
As the situation continues to unfold, the humanitarian crisis in Lebanon deepens, with the toll on civilians mounting daily. Efforts to provide aid and relief are being hampered by the ongoing airstrikes, leaving many in desperate need of assistance.
Source By Agencies