An Israeli airstrike late Tuesday night on an apartment building in Barja, a town south of Beirut, has left at least 30 people dead, according to reports from Lebanese rescue workers. The Civil Defence agency highlighted that many individuals remain unaccounted for following the strike, which resulted in the collapse of part of the four-storey structure, primarily housing displaced persons amid ongoing conflict.
The Israeli military confirmed the attack, stating it targeted what it called "terror infrastructure" linked to Hezbollah, the Shia militant group. The violence did not end with this incident; on Wednesday, the Lebanese health ministry reported an additional 40 fatalities due to subsequent Israeli strikes in the eastern regions of Baalbek and Bekaa.
In Barja, locals described the horrifying aftermath. One man, Moussa Zahran, recounted how he managed to save his family when debris fell onto his home. "These rocks that you see here weigh 100kg, they fell on a 13kg kid," he lamented as he displayed the damage. Zahran, who escaped with his son and wife, expressed gratitude for their survival while mourning the loss of life surrounding them.
Among those killed in the latest airstrikes were seven women and three children, including a seven-month-old infant. The strikes reportedly caught residents by surprise, as there was no warning of the impending attack. Following the initial count of casualties, the Lebanese health ministry updated the death toll to include victims from ongoing strikes across the region, raising alarms about the spiraling violence.
In Baalbek, an Ottoman-era building sustained severe damage, with Lebanon's Culture Minister expressing concern over the loss of historical heritage. Minister Mohammad Mortada called the destruction "an irremediable loss for Lebanon and for world heritage," pointing to the damage inflicted near the Roman ruins.
Israeli military leadership claimed accuracy in their targeting, noting operations aimed at Hezbollah personnel. Concurrently, Hezbollah retaliated from Lebanon, with reports confirming a rocket strike that resulted in the death of an Israeli civilian, further escalating the already tense situation.
With ongoing strikes occurring in various southern locations and new rocket fire into northern Israel, tensions show no signs of abating. Hezbollah’s secretary-general, Naim Qassem, emphasized the group’s military readiness and the far-reaching capability of their attacks.
As the conflict escalates, the toll has become catastrophic, with over 2,400 casualties and more than 1.2 million individuals displaced within Lebanon, according to local authorities. Israel's military actions were triggered by the ongoing hostilities, following provocations that included rocket attacks aligned with the broader conflict involving Hamas. The worsening violence has prompted fears of further destruction and civilian suffering in the region, as both sides remain locked in a devastating cycle of aggression.
