Beirut: Israeli airstrikes on the village of Khreibeh in Lebanon’s Baalbek District claimed the lives of six individuals, including three children, and left 11 others wounded on Saturday, the Lebanese health ministry announced.
Children Among the Victims
Among the injured were five children, with two reported to be in critical condition, according to the ministry’s statement. The devastating strikes came amidst escalating violence in the region.
Earlier on Saturday, Israeli strikes targeted medics in southern Lebanon, resulting in the deaths of two, including one in Borj Rahal and another in Kfartebnit. Four rescue workers were injured, and two remain unaccounted for, the ministry added.
Targeting Hezbollah Strongholds
For the fifth consecutive day, Israeli airstrikes targeted areas in the southern suburbs of Beirut, a region controlled by the Iran-backed Hezbollah group. Security sources reported at least 15 strikes on Saturday alone. The Israeli military stated that its operations were aimed at Hezbollah infrastructure, including a weapons storage facility and a command center.
A soldier from the Israeli military lost his life during combat in southern Lebanon on Saturday. However, Lebanese authorities have not yet provided details on casualties from the strikes in the capital’s southern suburbs.
Context of the Offensive
The Israeli military launched its ground and air offensive against Hezbollah in late September, citing the need to secure the return of tens of thousands of Israelis evacuated from northern areas under Hezbollah fire. This campaign runs parallel to the ongoing Gaza war and follows nearly a year of cross-border hostilities.
The offensive has inflicted significant damage on Hezbollah and displaced over a million Lebanese, sparking a severe humanitarian crisis.
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Rising Death Toll
Lebanon’s health ministry reports that Israeli attacks have killed at least 3,452 people as of Friday, October 7, 2023, most of them since late September. The figure includes both civilian and combatant casualties.
In response, Israel has reported that Hezbollah attacks over the past year have resulted in the deaths of approximately 100 civilians and soldiers in northern Israel, the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, and southern Lebanon.
