The conflict between Israel and militant groups in the Middle East surged over the weekend, resulting in more than 80 fatalities across Lebanon, Gaza, and Syria due to a wave of Israeli airstrikes, according to various reports. This escalation marks one of the deadliest periods in the ongoing hostilities.
In central Lebanon, Israeli airstrikes targeted the town of Almat, leaving at least 20 people dead, including three children, Lebanon's Health Ministry confirmed. Videos from the scene showed extensive devastation, with emergency crews using heavy machinery to clear rubble. "The targeted house belongs to one of the well-known residents of the area, and it is possible that it received displaced people," said Simon Abi Ramia, a local member of parliament.
Further strikes were reported in the towns of Mashghara and Debaal in southern Lebanon, resulting in at least three additional casualties. Intermittent artillery shelling was also reported in Khiam, compounding the damage. According to a CNN tally based on statements from the Lebanese health ministry, Israel's stepped-up campaign against Hezbollah since mid-September has caused at least 2,513 fatalities and more than 11,700 injuries.
The deadliest attack in Lebanon targeted a civil defense center linked to the Islamic Al-Rissala Scouts Association in Deir Qanoun, resulting in 17 deaths. Rescue teams continued their search for survivors amid the rubble, as extensive destruction was evident. Strikes in nearby towns such as Hanawaih and Majdal Zoun added to the mounting death toll.
Meanwhile, in Gaza, at least 41 Palestinians were killed during Israeli airstrikes early Sunday morning, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. One strike in Jabalya destroyed two homes, killing a significant number of children. International NGO Save the Children decried the devastation in a post on social media, highlighting that multiple generations within families were lost.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that their strikes targeted "terrorist infrastructure" in response to threats against IDF troops. "Numerous steps were taken to mitigate the risk of harming civilians, including the use of aerial surveillance and precise intelligence," the IDF said. However, civilian casualties and mounting destruction have exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with the World Health Organization warning of an impending famine in the northern part of the enclave.
The situation in Syria mirrored the escalating violence. Israeli airstrikes in the Sayyida Zainab area near Damascus claimed at least seven civilian lives and left 20 others injured, Syrian state news agency SANA reported. The area, known for a Hezbollah presence, has been targeted before, intensifying regional tensions.
Rocket fire continued from southern Lebanon, with the IDF reporting at least ten projectiles entering Israeli territory, some intercepted and others landing in open areas. The exchange of attacks has fueled an already fragile geopolitical situation.
The international community's efforts to broker a ceasefire have so far failed. Qatar, Egypt, and the United States have attempted negotiations, but Qatar announced a suspension of its mediation due to a lack of "willingness and seriousness" from both sides to engage in talks. The violence, which began with a Hamas-led attack on Israeli communities in early October, has already claimed thousands of lives, and diplomatic solutions appear increasingly out of reach.
