Israeli Strikes on Lebanon Result in Multiple Deaths, Escalating Tensions
In a series of recent attacks, Israel has reportedly killed fifteen people in Lebanon, including thirteen at a Palestinian refugee camp and two in separate drone strikes. These incidents have escalated tensions and sparked fears of breaking the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, which has been in place since last year.
A Wave of Attacks
The Lebanese Health Ministry reported that Israeli strikes killed two civilians in the country's south on Tuesday, one in the city of Bint Jbeil and another in Blida near the Lebanese border. These attacks mark Israel's latest deadly attack despite a ceasefire that has been in place since last November, during which Israel is said to have killed more than 70 people, according to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
One of the victims was identified as Mohammad Shweikh, a school principal targeted in his vehicle in the town of al-Mansouri. The Israeli army claimed that Shweikh was a Hezbollah terrorist
without providing any evidence.
Massacre at the Refugee Camp
In a separate incident, an Israeli airstrike on the Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp near the coastal city of Sidon in Lebanon resulted in thirteen deaths. Israel Defense Forces stated that they were targeting a Hamas training camp, a claim refuted by Hamas, describing the strike as a 'barbaric attack'.
Lebanon24 reported that the missiles came from fighter jets and appeared to be precision-guided. The first reports indicate two consecutive strikes hit the area near Khalid ibn al-Walid Mosque, and wounded victims were rushed to nearby hospitals.
Rising Tensions and Fear of Escalation
These attacks have sparked fears of a massacre and escalated tensions in and around Ain al-Hilweh, one of Lebanon’s largest and most volatile refugee camps. The recurring Israeli strikes on Lebanon have stoked fears the truce could collapse, threatening an already shaky ceasefire in Gaza.
Al Jazeera reports that Israel continues to attack Lebanon on a near-daily basis in violation of a yearlong ceasefire with Hezbollah. This has left hundreds of people dead or injured and opened a very dangerous door
to major escalation in the near future.
The Current Status
The Israeli military has not responded to requests for comment. Meanwhile, following the attacks, mosques inside the Ain al-Hilweh camp broadcast urgent calls asking residents to clear the streets to allow ambulances to reach the injured. Journalists have reportedly not been allowed to view the aftermath and verify the claims.
The series of attacks mark one of the deadliest Israeli strikes on Lebanon since the ceasefire between the neighboring countries went into effect about a year ago. The situation remains tense, with the ceasefire and the peace of the region hanging in the balance.