Israeli Attacks on Hezbollah stronghold in Bekaa Valley kill at least 60, including children, as Lebanon’s humanitarian crisis worsens.
At least 60 people have been killed in recent Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, according to the Lebanese health ministry.
Two children were among the casualties in the attacks that targeted 16 areas in the Baalbek region, a stronghold of the Hezbollah militant group.
The ministry reported that 58 people were injured, and rescue efforts are still underway in the valley.
The Baalbek governor called these the “most violent” attacks in the area since the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah escalated last month.
Unverified videos circulating online showed damage to buildings and forests on fire, as rescuers searched for survivors.
In the town of Boudai, residents were seen pleading for heavy equipment to aid in rescue efforts.
The head of the Baalbek Civil Defence crew described the airstrikes as creating a “ring of fire” around the region, targeting residential areas where civilians live.
He noted a lack of equipment has hampered search and rescue operations.
The town of Al-Allaq was hit the hardest, with 16 people from the same family killed. Earlier on Monday, Israeli airstrikes on the city of Tyre left 7 dead and 17 injured.
The ongoing hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, which began after the armed Lebanese group started firing rockets into northern Israel in early October, have taken a heavy toll on Lebanon.
The Lebanese government estimates that over 1.3 million people have been internally displaced as a result of the conflict.