JERUSALEM, Israel – In a marked escalation of hostilities, Israeli airstrikes on northern Lebanon and Gaza have reportedly killed dozens of civilians, including multiple children, according to statements from local officials and rescue teams.
The strikes come as Israel intensifies its offensive across Lebanese territories and Gaza, targeting sites it claims are linked to militant activities by Hezbollah and Hamas.
The Lebanese health ministry reported that at least 23 people, among them seven children, lost their lives following a strike on a residential area in Almat, near Byblos.
The attack, which occurred on Sunday, November 10, 2024, left rescue workers combing through the rubble in a desperate search for survivors.
In Gaza’s Jabalia, a separate airstrike early on Sunday killed at least 25 people, 13 of whom were children, according to the region’s civil defence agency.
The agency confirmed that more than 30 others were injured in the bombing, which levelled a house and left parts of the neighbourhood in ruins.
Another strike in Gaza City’s Sabra neighbourhood resulted in five fatalities, with several others still missing.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) acknowledged both attacks, claiming that the targeted locations housed militant operations.
An IDF spokesperson stated that “numerous steps were taken to mitigate the risk of harm to civilians,” including the use of aerial surveillance and targeted intelligence.
Intensified Operations Against Hezbollah in Lebanon
Sunday’s attacks reflect a notable intensification in Israel’s campaign against Hezbollah, the Iran-backed group with a significant presence in Lebanon.
While previous Israeli strikes have primarily concentrated on southern Lebanon, recent operations have broadened to target cities and towns across the country.
The strike on Almat in northern Lebanon killed 23 people, officials said in Nov. 2024. | Reuters
On Saturday, the Lebanese health ministry confirmed the deaths of 53 people in various attacks, including 28 casualties in southern Lebanon and 17 in Baalbek.
These incidents add to a growing toll since the latest escalation between Israel and Hezbollah began seven weeks ago.
Lebanese officials report that over 3,189 people have been killed and 14,078 injured, with more than 1.2 million displaced.
Civilian Impact in Gaza and Beyond
In Gaza, the recent strikes have compounded an already dire humanitarian crisis.
According to aid organisations, northern Gaza, including Jabalia, has faced relentless bombardment since early October, when Israel launched a new ground offensive in response to Hamas attacks on Israeli territory.
Fadel Naim, director of Al-Ahly Hospital in Gaza City, told the Associated Press that his hospital had received 17 bodies from the Jabalia strike alone, with the death toll expected to rise as recovery operations continue.
Neighbouring Syria has also reported fatalities from Israeli strikes.
The Syrian defence ministry stated that an air raid on a residential building south of Damascus killed seven civilians, including women and children, and injured 20 others.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights added that the targeted building housed members of Hezbollah.
Increasing Diplomatic Pressure and Humanitarian Concerns
The uptick in violence arrives as Israel faces a looming US deadline to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza or risk potential limits on military cooperation.
The United Nations has previously warned that Gaza is experiencing its “darkest moment,” with nearly 70% of reported casualties being women and children, according to UN sources.
Efforts toward a ceasefire have stalled as Qatar suspended its mediation role, citing a lack of willingness to negotiate from both Hamas and Israel.
Meanwhile, international food security experts have raised alarms of a potential famine in Gaza, despite Israeli claims of increased aid, including the delivery of food, water, and medical supplies to parts of northern Gaza.
Unrelenting Violence Since October 7
Israel’s intensified actions in Gaza and Lebanon trace back to Hamas’s assault on Israeli territory on October 7, 2023, which killed approximately 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage by the Palestinian group.
In the subsequent weeks, Gaza’s health ministry—operating under Hamas and verified by the UN—has reported over 43,600 deaths as a result of the ongoing conflict.
The violence has also deeply impacted Lebanon, with Israeli forces systematically targeting Hezbollah’s infrastructure and leadership.
Significant destruction has been reported across southern and eastern Lebanon, as well as in Hezbollah-stronghold areas in Beirut’s southern suburbs.
Hezbollah, meanwhile, has continued to fire rockets at Israel, with Israeli authorities reporting over 70 deaths from Hezbollah-related attacks within Israel and the Golan Heights over the past year.
Eyewitness Accounts and International Reactions
Residents in Jabalia and Almat describe the Israeli airstrikes as having the force of an “earthquake,” with families devastated by the sudden violence.
“We were just sitting peacefully. These are innocent citizens who don’t belong to any military organisation,” said Hamza Alloush, an eyewitness and relative of victims in Almat.
He added, “The house was bombed over the residents’ heads without warning… those who survived were thrown onto trees, onto neighbours’ roofs.”
As the conflict escalates, international leaders continue to call for restraint.
