ALWAGHT- Lebanon’s health ministry confirmed on Sunday that the death toll from an Israeli airstrike on Beirut’s southern suburbs has risen to 45, with rescue efforts still ongoing.
The Lebanese health ministry has reported that the death toll from Friday's airstrike in Beirut's Dahiya district has risen to 45, up from 37, with over 60 individuals injured, including three children aged four, six, and ten. Rescue teams continue to search through the rubble, aided by DNA testing to identify victims, and are still looking for 17 people believed to be trapped. The ongoing operation has caused fear among residents, leading many to evacuate the area.
Lebanon's Minister of Public Works and Transport, Ali Hamieh, condemned the airstrike as a “war crime,” accusing Israel of inciting conflict, while Israel's military claimed the strike was aimed at senior Hezbollah figures. Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi called the incident a pivotal moment for Lebanon, stressing the need for the country to address territorial violations to prevent escalating security issues.
Tensions escalated further when Hezbollah launched rocket attacks on Israel's Ramat David airbase in retaliation for civilian casualties, prompting an Israeli response of extensive airstrikes on southern Lebanon. This exchange marks the most intense confrontations since October 8 of last year. Concerns about violations of international law have been raised, with experts warning that the situation reflects a troubling disregard for humanitarian standards, compounded by the West's silence on these issues.
