Lebanese civilian casualties mount as Israeli strikes continue

The strikes, part of Israel’s intensified military campaign, hit both civilian and strategic areas, leading to widespread casualties and destruction.

The Lebanese National News Agency reported that three people were killed and one critically injured when an Israeli airstrike targeted a civilian vehicle on the Qatrani road in the western Beqaa region, near the Syrian border.

In another incident, the Lebanese Ministry of Health confirmed four deaths and 18 injuries following an airstrike on the town of Barja, located in the Chouf district in southern Lebanon. The attack significantly damaged local infrastructure, raising concerns over the safety of civilians in the region.

Elsewhere, two people were killed and four others injured in an Israeli strike on Deir Bella in Batroun, a town in northern Lebanon. In the Kesrouane district, an attack on Maaysrah claimed nine lives and left 15 individuals wounded.

The Israeli airstrikes also targeted several other towns, including Hanine, Shuqra, Alama al-Shab, Nakoura, and Mansouri. In addition to the air raids, Israeli artillery bombardments struck the town of Al-Jabin and the Marjeyoun plain, further contributing to the rising death toll.

The conflict has severely impacted Lebanon's civilian population, with strikes causing extensive damage to homes, roads, and essential infrastructure. Local hospitals and emergency services are struggling to cope with the high number of casualties, as the situation on the ground remains dire.

The Lebanese Ministry of Health announced that since the beginning of Israeli airstrikes on October 8, 2023, the death toll has reached 2,255, with 10,524 people injured. The ongoing military operations have led to widespread devastation across the country, with regions like the capital, Beirut, also facing increased air assaults.

Since September 23, Israel has significantly ramped up its military operations in Lebanon, with frequent airstrikes targeting both southern Lebanon and Beirut. The Israeli military has stated that the attacks are aimed at neutralizing resistance groups operating in the area, although the bombardments have increasingly affected civilian populations.

As airstrikes continue, Lebanon faces a growing humanitarian crisis, with thousands displaced from their homes and essential services under strain. International calls for a ceasefire have so far gone unheeded, and the risk of further escalation remains high. (ILKHA)