Recent Israeli military actions have resulted in fatalities and injuries in both Lebanon and the Gaza Strip.
On Tuesday, an Israeli strike near the Ein el-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon killed 13 individuals and wounded others, marking the highest death toll from a single strike in Lebanon since a ceasefire a year prior. Separately, strikes on Monday near Lebanon's border with Syria killed four. On Wednesday, additional Israeli strikes targeted locations in southern Lebanon and along the Syrian border, while incidents in Gaza on Wednesday led to the deaths of at least 11 Palestinians, including journalists and children.
These events occur amidst an ongoing regional conflict that has seen previous escalations between Israel, Hamas, and Hezbollah, followed by a United States-brokered ceasefire in November 2024.
Strike Near Ein el-Hilweh Refugee Camp (Tuesday)
On Tuesday, an Israeli military strike near the Ein el-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp, located near the coastal city of Sidon in southern Lebanon, resulted in the deaths of 13 individuals and wounded four others, according to Lebanon's health ministry.
This event represents the highest death toll from a single strike in Lebanon since a ceasefire agreement related to the Israel-Hezbollah conflict was established a year prior.
Images and footage from the scene depicted emergency personnel at the camp's entrance and ambulances navigating its narrow streets amidst a large plume of smoke. Initial reports suggested the attack impacted an area adjacent to a mosque, typically active during evening hours, striking a vehicle in its parking area. Access to the strike site was restricted by personnel identified as Hamas members.
The Israeli military stated that its forces targeted members of the Palestinian armed group Hamas "operating in a training compound... in the Ein el-Hilweh area," which it claimed was being utilized for the preparation of attacks against Israel and its armed forces. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) also affirmed that "measures were taken to reduce the chance of harm to civilians, including the use of precision munitions, aerial observations, and additional intelligence information," and indicated its intent to continue operations against Hamas wherever the group operates.
Hamas released a statement condemning the attack, denying that the targeted location was a training compound and identifying it instead as a sports playground.
Other Strikes in Lebanon
Monday Incident Near Syrian Border
Early Monday morning, an Israeli airstrike near Lebanon’s border with Syria resulted in the deaths of at least four individuals, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health. One of the victims was identified as Syrian national Khaled Mohammad al-Ahmad by Lebanon’s National News Agency.
The Israeli military confirmed the airstrike via a post on X, stating that it targeted members of Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) in the Majdal Anjar area of Lebanon. No evidence for this claim was immediately provided. The PIJ did not issue an immediate comment on the incident.
Wednesday Incidents in Southern Lebanon and Near Syrian Border
On Wednesday, Israel's air force conducted multiple strikes against sites in southern Lebanon, asserting they were used by the armed group Hezbollah for weapons storage, and at locations along Lebanon's border with Syria where weapons were reportedly being smuggled. The military specified striking four border crossings in Lebanon's northeastern Hermel region and weapons storage facilities in three southern Lebanese villages, and indicated it had issued evacuation warnings.
Lebanon's health ministry reported that 19 individuals, including journalists, were wounded in the southern village of Qennarit. Separately, drone strikes on vehicles in the villages of Bazouriyeh and Zahrani resulted in two fatalities, according to Lebanon's state-run National News Agency.
Lebanese officials, including President Joseph Aoun, condemned these strikes as "systematic aggression."
Incidents in Gaza (Wednesday)
On Wednesday, Israeli forces killed at least 11 Palestinians in Gaza, according to hospital reports. The fatalities included three journalists, two 13-year-old boys, and a woman.
Journalists Killed
Three Palestinian journalists died while filming near a displacement camp in central Gaza. An Israeli strike later impacted a vehicle transporting them as they documented the work of an Egyptian government committee at a new displacement camp in the Netzarim area. Mohammed Mansour, the committee's spokesperson, stated the strike occurred approximately 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the Israeli-controlled zone and that the vehicle was known to the Israeli military.
The Israeli military stated it had identified suspects operating a drone that posed a threat to its troops. One of the deceased journalists, Abdul Raouf Shaat, contributed to Agence France-Presse but was not on assignment for them at the time.
The Committee to Protect Journalists reports that over 200 Palestinian journalists and media workers have died in Gaza since the conflict began in 2023.
Children and Other Fatalities
In separate incidents, two 13-year-old boys were killed. One boy, his father, and a 22-year-old man were hit by Israeli drones on the eastern side of the Bureij refugee camp, as reported by officials from Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital. In another incident, a 13-year-old was shot by troops in the eastern town of Bani Suheila, according to Nasser Hospital.
Nasser Hospital also confirmed receiving the body of a Palestinian woman who was shot by Israeli troops in the Muwasi area of Khan Younis. Additionally, three brothers were reported killed by a tank shelling in the Bureij camp.
Gaza's health ministry reports that more than 470 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since a ceasefire began on October 10. Approximately 77 of these deaths occurred near a ceasefire line that divides the territory. The ministry's casualty records are generally considered reliable by U.N. agencies and independent experts. The United States is reportedly working to advance the second phase of the deal.
Regional Conflict Context
The broader regional conflict intensified following an attack by Hamas on southern Israel from Gaza on October 7, 2023. This event led to approximately 1,200 fatalities in Israel and 251 individuals being taken hostage, based on Israeli figures. Israel's subsequent military response in Gaza has resulted in at least 69,169 Palestinian deaths, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in the territory, with the Gaza Health Ministry reporting tens of thousands of fatalities.
Following the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict, the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah commenced firing rockets toward Israeli positions along the border, stating its actions were in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Israel responded with shelling and airstrikes in Lebanon, escalating into a conflict that reached the status of a full-blown war by late September 2024. This period saw an intensive Israeli bombing campaign and a ground incursion into southern Lebanon in October 2024.
A ceasefire, brokered by the United States, concluded the Israel-Hezbollah conflict in late November 2024, approximately one year prior to the recent strikes.
Lebanese authorities reported that Israeli operations in Lebanon during this conflict resulted in approximately 4,000 deaths, including numerous civilians, and displaced over 1.2 million residents, with the World Bank estimating $11 billion in damage.
Israeli authorities reported 127 fatalities, including 80 soldiers and 47 civilians, during these hostilities.
Despite the ceasefire agreement, the Israeli military has continued to conduct operations in Lebanon, stating these actions are in response to Hezbollah's efforts to rebuild its capabilities. The Lebanese Health Ministry has reported more than 270 individuals killed and approximately 850 wounded by Israeli military actions since the ceasefire. The United Nations reported over 10,000 Israeli air and ground attacks in the year following the agreement to halt hostilities. The UN’s rights office documented at least 108 civilian casualties from Israeli attacks since the ceasefire as of November last year, including 21 women and 16 children. The office also stated that at least 11 Lebanese civilians were abducted by Israeli forces during this period.
Lebanon filed a complaint with the UN last month regarding alleged Israeli violations, urging the UN Security Council to ensure Israel ceases attacks and withdraws from the country. The complaint indicated 2,036 Israeli violations of Lebanon’s sovereignty occurred in the last three months of 2025. Israel maintains occupation of five areas within Lebanese territory, which has affected the reconstruction of border villages and prevented the return of displaced residents.