Rescue teams in Lebanon reported a tragic development following an Israeli air strike on an apartment building in Barja, which occurred on Tuesday evening. The Civil Defence agency confirmed that at least 30 individuals lost their lives in the attack, which severely damaged the four-storey building that housed many displaced families. Eyewitness accounts describe the horrific aftermath, with a local resident noting that falling debris injured his wife and young son, who had to be rescued through a window.
The Israeli military, citing operational intelligence, justified the strike by claiming it targeted "terror infrastructure" linked to Hezbollah. However, the attack has led to a significant loss of civilian life, prompting ire and grief among the affected community. Reports indicate that among the deceased were several women and children, including a seven-month-old infant.
In parallel to the Barja incident, Israeli air strikes on Wednesday around the Baalbek and Bekaa governorates resulted in over 40 additional deaths, as confirmed by the Lebanese health ministry. Cultural sites have also suffered, with significant damage reported to an Ottoman-era building near the renowned Roman ruins in Baalbek, raising alarms over the destruction of heritage.
On the other side of the conflict, Hezbollah has retaliated by launching rockets targeting northern and central Israel, leading to the death of an Israeli man near a kibbutz. An Israeli military spokesperson stated that their operations aimed to thwart Hezbollah and eliminate combatants. As the violence escalates, both sides appear entrenched in their military strategies with tensions running high across the border.
In totality, the conflict has led to over 2,400 deaths in Lebanon and displaced more than 1.2 million people, further complicating the humanitarian crisis in the region. With both Hezbollah and Israeli forces ramping up operations, prospects for peace remain tenuous at best.
