Israel strikes Lebanon, Israeli airstrikes Beirut, Hamas leader killed in Lebanon, Palestinian refugee camp hit, Gaza airstrikes, Hezbollah conflict 2024/ Newslooks/ BEIRUT/ LEBANON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ On Saturday, Israel expanded its military campaign in Lebanon, striking Beirut’s southern suburbs and a Palestinian refugee camp in northern Lebanon. The airstrikes targeted Hezbollah and Hamas militants, leaving several dead, including civilians. Meanwhile, thousands of Lebanese civilians continue fleeing to Syria, seeking refuge from the escalating conflict.
Israeli Airstrikes Target Northern Lebanon Quick Looks
- Israel strikes Beirut: Israeli airstrikes hit Beirut’s southern suburbs and a Palestinian refugee camp in northern Lebanon for the first time.
- Hamas leader killed: A Hamas military official and his family were killed in an airstrike on the Beddawi refugee camp near Tripoli.
- Escalating conflict: Israel continues targeting Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon as part of its broader military operation.
- Fleeing civilians: Nearly 375,000 Lebanese civilians have fled into Syria as Israeli strikes intensify.
Israeli Airstrikes Hit Beirut Suburbs & Palestinian Camp in N. Lebanon
Deep Look
Israel expanded its military campaign in Lebanon on Saturday, launching a series of airstrikes that struck targets in Beirut’s southern suburbs and, for the first time, a Palestinian refugee camp in northern Lebanon. The airstrike on the Beddawi refugee camp, located near the northern city of Tripoli, marked a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict. According to Hamas, the strike killed one of its military wing officials, along with his wife and two young daughters. Tripoli, located far from the usual conflict zone, had previously been spared the intensity of Israeli bombardments, which have primarily targeted southern Lebanon and Beirut.
The strike on Beddawi was part of a broader Israeli military campaign against both Hezbollah and Hamas militants operating in Lebanon. Since the war between Israel and Hamas broke out in October 2023, Israel has carried out multiple strikes against Hamas officials in Lebanon, in addition to targeting the leadership of Hezbollah, a militant group allied with Hamas.
The Israeli military reported that its special forces were engaged in ground raids against Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon. These raids aim to destroy missile launch sites, weapons storage facilities, and tunnels used by Hezbollah to approach the Israeli border. Since Israel escalated its strikes in late September, more than 1,400 Lebanese, including Hezbollah fighters and civilians, have been killed, while approximately 1.2 million people have been displaced from their homes.
In response to the intensified strikes, Lebanon has witnessed a massive exodus of civilians. Nearly 375,000 people have fled to Syria in the past two weeks alone, according to a Lebanese government committee. The Masnaa Border Crossing has seen a steady flow of people crossing on foot, despite the road leading to the crossing being damaged by Israeli airstrikes.
In addition to the strikes in Lebanon, Israeli air raids continued in Gaza on Saturday. Palestinian officials reported that Israeli airstrikes in northern and central Gaza killed at least nine people, including two children. One strike targeted a group of people in Beit Hanoun, while another hit a house in the northern section of the Nuseirat refugee camp. The attacks left several others wounded, according to local medical sources.
The Israeli military has not commented on the Gaza strikes but has previously accused Hamas of operating within civilian areas, making such regions potential targets. The military also issued warnings for Palestinians to evacuate parts of the Nuseirat and Bureij refugee camps along Gaza’s strategic Netzarim corridor, signaling possible upcoming operations in the area.
As the nearly year-long war between Israel and Hamas continues, the death toll in Gaza has reached nearly 42,000, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. The ongoing conflict shows no signs of abating, with both sides entrenched in a cycle of retaliation and violence that has devastated communities across Gaza and Lebanon.
