Heavy Israeli Bombardment Kills 40 in Lebanon

Israeli bombardment Lebanon over the past day have killed at least 40 people, including children, Lebanese health authorities reported on Saturday. The strikes, which targeted areas across Lebanon, heavily hit the southern suburbs of Beirut and the coastal city of Tyre.

In Tyre, seven people died in strikes late Friday, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. Although Israel had previously ordered evacuations in parts of the city, no recent warnings were issued on social media before Friday’s attack. Among the dead were two children, and rescue workers are still combing through the rubble to retrieve bodies and identify remains through DNA testing, the ministry added.

Casualties Rise in Baalbek and Surrounding Areas

The attacks on Saturday were not limited to the south. Strikes in nearby towns claimed 13 lives, including seven medics from Hezbollah-affiliated rescue groups. An additional 20 people died in bombings in Baalbek and surrounding eastern plains, bringing the total death toll for the day to over 40. These recent escalations mark some of the deadliest strikes since fighting intensified between Israel and Hezbollah last September.

The Israeli military has stated that it targeted Hezbollah sites in Tyre and Baalbek, aiming at fighters, weapons stores, and “operational apartments” used by the group. Lebanon’s health ministry reported that Israeli attacks over the last year have killed 3,136 people, including 619 women and 194 children, and injured nearly 14,000 people.

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Ongoing Hostilities with Hezbollah

Since October 2023, Israel has been engaged in continuous clashes with Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Lebanese armed group. The conflict escalated significantly in late September this year, with Israel intensifying its bombing campaign and Hezbollah increasing its rocket and drone attacks. Hezbollah announced more than 20 operations on Saturday alone, including one against a military factory south of Tel Aviv the day prior.

The violence has affected everyday life, especially in the once-bustling southern suburbs of Beirut, which have now been reduced to ruins. Israeli airstrikes overnight flattened buildings, leaving residents sifting through rubble to salvage what little they can.

Beirut Residents Face Devastation

The southern suburbs of Beirut, a Hezbollah stronghold, have been subjected to relentless bombardment. Reuters reporters, accompanied by Hezbollah representatives, witnessed the devastation firsthand. Entire buildings have collapsed, and yellow Hezbollah flags are seen amid the debris. Some buildings still stand partially damaged, with floors caving in and household items spilling onto the streets below.

Residents, now homeless, are gathering whatever belongings they can find. Hassan Hannawi, one of the affected residents, described the struggle to recover personal items from the rubble, saying, “We are trying to gather as many [of our possessions] as we can, so we can manage to live off them, nothing more.”

A Rising Toll and Grim Future

The escalating violence has taken a severe toll on Lebanon. With thousands killed and wounded in the past year, the conflict shows no signs of slowing down. Both sides continue to retaliate in a cycle of attacks, with Hezbollah carrying out daily rocket and drone strikes in response to intensified Israeli bombings.

As fighting spreads and more Lebanese neighborhoods are reduced to ruins, the outlook remains grim. The latest surge in violence has not only increased casualties but also left countless Lebanese civilians facing uncertainty and displacement.

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