ALWAGHT- At least 20 people were killed in an Israeli airstrike on the Lebanese coastal town of Barja, with rescue operations underway as the death toll rises, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry.
On Tuesday, Lebanon's Health Ministry reported that an Israeli airstrike targeted a building in Barja, a town 20 kilometers south of Beirut, killing at least 20 people. The attack prompted rescue operations as authorities worked to clear debris and search for additional casualties.
The Ministry initially reported 15 fatalities but later updated the toll to 20 dead and 14 wounded. Thick smoke was seen rising from the building, and many residents fled the area in fear of further strikes.
This strike on Barja was Israel's second airstrike outside Hezbollah’s usual areas of influence that day. Earlier, another airstrike targeted a residential building in Jiyeh, a nearby town, resulting in one death, as confirmed by local officials.
Since late September, Israel has intensified its military campaign across Lebanon, carrying out airstrikes in various regions, including Beirut, and launching a ground offensive in the south. The ongoing conflict has led to widespread devastation, displacing over a million people and resulting in thousands of deaths and injuries, with no ceasefire yet in sight.
