Israeli Strikes in Northern Lebanon and Gaza Lead to Dozens of Fatalities, According to Officials and Rescuers

Reports from rescuers and officials indicate that Israeli military actions in northern Lebanon and Gaza have resulted in the deaths of dozens of individuals, among them several children. The Lebanese health ministry stated that a minimum of 23 people, including seven children, died on Sunday in Almat, situated near Byblos, north of Beirut, the capital. Within northern Gaza, the civil defence agency reported that Israeli attacks on two residences in the blockaded territory led to the deaths of at least 30 individuals. An initial strike on Sunday morning impacted a dwelling in Jabalia, causing the deaths of “at least 25” people, which included 13 children, and leaving over 30 injured, according to the agency. The civil defence agency also noted that an additional five individuals perished in Gaza City’s Sabra neighbourhood, with some still unaccounted for following the incident. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) declared that Hezbollah had stored weaponry and conducted operations from the location it targeted in Lebanon. The IDF further stated that “numerous steps were taken to mitigate the risk of harm to civilians, including the use of aerial surveillance and precise intelligence.” Regarding Jabalia, the IDF asserted it hit a site where “terrorists were operating,” and similarly, measures had been implemented to reduce civilian casualties in that strike. The IDF indicated that the specifics of both occurrences were being examined. According to the Lebanese health ministry, rescue personnel continued to search through the debris following the strike in Almat. Israel has intensified its military campaign against Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed Lebanese armed group. While its primary objective had been southern Lebanon, with the goal of diminishing the group’s capability to fire rockets across the border, recent weeks have seen operations extend to cities and towns across Lebanon. The health ministry also reported a distinct event in the south, where three medical workers died after an Israeli strike impacted an Islamic Health Authority building in Adloun. In an additional update, the Lebanese health ministry issued a statement on Sunday, reporting that 53 individuals had been killed on Saturday, with 28 fatalities occurring in the south and 17 in Baalbek. Israel’s military stated that the IDF had intercepted Hezbollah rockets on Saturday, following the militant group’s launch of 70 projectiles. Lebanese authorities report that since the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah intensified seven weeks prior, a minimum of 3,189 people have lost their lives, 14,078 have been injured, and over 1.2 million have been displaced throughout Lebanon. In Gaza, aid organizations indicate that Jabalia and other areas of northern Gaza have been under siege since early October, which is when Israel initiated a new ground offensive targeting the Palestinian armed group Hamas. Dr. Fadel Naim, who directs the Al-Ahly Hospital in Gaza City, informed the AP news agency that his institution had received 17 bodies from Jabalia to date, among them nine women, and anticipated that the number of fatalities would probably increase. Witnesses characterized the Israeli strike as an “earthquake.” Hamza Alloush, an eyewitness and relative of the victims, conveyed to Reuters, “We were just sitting peacefully. These are innocent citizens who don’t belong to any military organisation or faction.” He further stated that the house “was bombed over the residents’ heads without warning, which led to the martyrdom of everyone inside. Those who were lucky enough to survive were thrown onto the trees, onto the neighbours, and the remains are still scattered under the rubble.” Visual evidence, including videos and images, depicted numerous bodies wrapped in blankets, transported in the rear of vehicles, and placed on the ground at a hospital. Medics and relatives reported that a separate strike in Gaza City resulted in the death of a welfare ministry official along with seven members of his family, including his wife and children. Israel is currently under a U.S. deadline, set to expire in a few days, to enhance the humanitarian conditions in Gaza or potentially face limitations on military cooperation. The United Nations had previously declared that the “darkest moment” of the conflict in Gaza was occurring in the northern sector of the territory. Concurrently, the AFP news agency conveyed that the Syrian defence ministry announced an Israeli air strike on a residential structure south of the capital, Damascus, had claimed the lives of seven civilians on Sunday. The ministry’s statement to AFP specified that the deceased included women and children, and 20 other individuals sustained injuries. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights informed the news agency that the assault was aimed at Hezbollah members. The UK-based monitoring organization stated that the strike was directed at “the building where Lebanese families and members of the movement live.” AFP noted that the IDF did not provide an immediate comment. On Saturday, Israel dismissed warnings of famine in northern Gaza issued by international food security experts, asserting that the group’s conclusions were based on “partial, biased data and superficial sources with vested interests.” The independent Famine Review Committee (FRC) had stated a high probability of impending famine and emphasized the necessity of immediate measures to alleviate a dire situation. Israel claimed it had intensified aid initiatives, including the opening of an additional crossing on Friday to facilitate more assistance into southern Gaza. The IDF subsequently reported that it had delivered 11 trucks containing food, water, and medical supplies to Jabalia and Beit Hanoun on Thursday. Concurrently, attempts to secure a ceasefire have halted, as Qatar has paused its mediation efforts until both Hamas and Israel “show their willingness” to engage in negotiations. Israel initiated its ongoing military operation in Gaza following Hamas’s assault on 7 October 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths in Israel and the abduction of 251 hostages to Gaza. The Hamas-administered health ministry in Gaza, whose statistics are considered dependable by the UN, has documented over 43,600 fatalities since the conflict began. It is widely believed that numerous additional bodies remain buried beneath the debris of bombed structures. In Lebanon, Israel commenced an offensive against Hezbollah following nearly a year of cross-border hostilities, which were ignited by the conflict in Gaza. Israeli air strikes have neutralized a significant portion of the group’s leadership and inflicted extensive damage in areas of southern and eastern Lebanon, as well as Beirut’s southern suburbs – regions where Hezbollah maintains a substantial presence. Israeli officials state that over 70 individuals have died due to Hezbollah attacks in Israel and the occupied Golan Heights during the last year. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding its approach to external linking is available.