IOF Aggression on South, Beirut, Bekaa Ongoing; Death Toll Hits 3,445

The Lebanese Ministry of Health announced in its daily report on Friday that the death toll from the Israeli aggression on the country has risen to 3,445, in addition to 14,599 injuries. 

The Public Health Ministry’s Emergency Operations Center issued a report detailing the impacts of the Israeli aggression on Lebanon, stating that airstrikes on Thursday killed 59 people and injured 182 others.

On Friday evening, Israeli occupation warplanes broke the sound barrier over several Lebanese regions, including the capital Beirut. This followed intensified airstrikes in recent days, targeting areas from South Lebanon to Beirut’s Southern Suburb all the way to the Bekaa Valley and Baalbek in eastern Lebanon.

The National News Agency reported that Israeli warplanes launched strikes on Beirut’s Southern Suburbs on Friday evening. This came after threats to target the industrial area of Ghobeiry, which includes auto parts shops. The area was hit by three strikes. Chiah, Burj al-Barajneh, and Hadath also came under attack, resulting in the demolition of several buildings.

Moreover, Ghobeiry was targeted again by a drone strike following the initial air raid.

Earlier in the day, a violent airstrike destroyed a multi-story building in Tayyouneh, near Beirut’s Pine Forest, within the Ghobeiry municipality. Residents had been warned to evacuate the building before it was hit. The strike caused a massive fire in the forest, which Beirut firefighting teams worked to extinguish.

The fire brigade stated that debris from a missile caused the fire, damaging pine trees, but the situation was brought under control.

Hostile airstrikes in southern Lebanon

The National News Agency further reported that Israeli warplanes struck the area between Ain Qana and Kafr Fila in Iqlim al-Tuffah on Friday evening. Additional strikes targeted Chama, Jwayya, Qabrikha, Wadi al-Hujeir, Houmin al-Tahta, Khirbet Selm, Khiam, Majdal Selm, and the outskirts of Ain Qana,  killing five members of the same family.

The airstrikes also targeted Batoulay, the area between Aishiyeh and Rayhan, Jwayya, and Beit Yahoun. Explosions in the Marj’youn district caused tremors felt across the region.

Airstrikes continued in Houmin al-Tahta and Bnaafoul, while intense strikes targeted Irki, Tufahta, and Anqoun. In Nabatiyeh, Israeli fighter jets bombed Jebchit.

An Israeli warplane also struck the outskirts of the Rashidieh camp in the Tyre district, while a drone carried out two attacks in Khiam and Naqoura near the occupied Palestinian border.

In the Tyre district, airstrikes resulted in six martyrs and 32 injuries. The martyrs included three victims from strikes on the popular housing area, two in Qana, and one in Mansouri.

Israeli planes also targeted Arabsalim, areas near Nabatiyeh al-Fawqa, and popular housing areas in Tyre, which face daily attacks. Additionally, focused shelling targeted Mansouri and Majdal Zoun, extending to Byout al-Seyyed and Dhour al-Bayyada in southern Tyre.

Israeli occupation forces also dropped internationally banned white phosphorus bombs on the outskirts of Bazouriyeh near Ayn Baal.

Use of cluster bombs

As in the 2006 war, Israeli occupation forces have begun using cluster bombs, striking towns near the Litani River, including Yohmor, Zawtar al-Sharqieh and al-Gharbieh, Frun, and al-Ghandouriyeh, as well as southern towns like Aalman, Qusayr, al-Teeri, Wadi al-Hujeir, Qantara, and Taybeh.

Ongoing Attacks in Bekaa and Baalbek

Israeli warplanes continue to bombard towns in Bekaa and Baalbek. On Friday evening, the western Bekaa town of Qelia was hit, though no casualties were reported.

Earlier strikes targeted Ser’een, Bazzalieh, Tarayya, Shmistar, Bouday, Jenta, and Bayt Msheik in Baalbek without prior warning.

On Thursday evening, Israeli planes committed a massacre by bombing a regional Civil Defense center in the Shaab neighborhood of Douris, destroying it and killing 14 members, including the center’s head.

Rescue teams are still working to retrieve bodies and search for missing individuals under the rubble.