Israel launched multiple airstrikes across Lebanon and Gaza on Friday, leaving scores dead and sparking further displacement in the region. In Lebanon, strikes targeted northeastern villages, killing at least 52 people, as reported by the Lebanese Health Ministry, with intense bombing focused on the Bekaa Valley near Baalbek. Israeli forces had expanded their strikes from border villages to larger urban areas, prompting an exodus of civilians. Over 60,000 residents have fled the Baalbek area alone.
Rescuers combed through rubble in the Lebanese towns of Younine and Amhaz, where dozens were killed, as Israel claimed to target Hezbollah sites. In Dahiyeh, a southern Beirut suburb, renewed airstrikes struck Hezbollah-claimed infrastructure, leading to evacuations but no immediate casualties.
The conflict’s escalation follows Hezbollah’s sustained attacks from Lebanon into northern Israel, igniting fears of a broader regional conflict. Since the initial clashes in October, Israel’s bombings in Lebanon have killed nearly 2,900 and wounded over 13,000 people, primarily civilians.
In Gaza, the toll is similarly severe. In central Gaza, residents recovered the bodies of 25 people following a barrage of Israeli strikes. The Nuseirat refugee camp was particularly hard-hit, with reports of fatalities including children. Israel stated it was targeting Hamas operations but acknowledged civilian casualties. Strikes also continued in Zuwaida and Deir al-Balah, causing additional deaths.
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The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire. United Nations officials have warned of worsening conditions in northern Gaza, where Israel’s blockade has impeded critical resources. Medical campaigns, including a polio vaccination initiative, face constant disruption due to the ongoing attacks.
The violence coincides with U.S. diplomatic efforts to broker cease-fire agreements. President Joe Biden’s administration has intensified talks, though no substantial progress has been made. Hamas leaders have expressed their insistence on a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, rejecting temporary truces that fall short of meeting broader demands for Palestinian security and autonomy.
Since October, Gaza’s health officials report over 43,000 Palestinian deaths, half of them women and children, as the enclave continues to suffer under intense Israeli bombardment. Meanwhile, Israeli casualties from Hezbollah’s attacks in the north have led to mass evacuations of border communities, with 60,000 Israelis displaced.
As international efforts struggle to yield solutions, the humanitarian toll in Lebanon and Gaza escalates, threatening to push both regions toward greater instability.
