The Lebanese caretaker government has accused the Israeli military of committing a “massacre” in the southern suburbs of Beirut, following an airstrike that killed 37 people.
This attack has escalated tensions in the region, which has been witnessing increased hostilities in recent weeks.
In a statement released on Saturday, Lebanon’s Ministry of Health confirmed that the death toll from the Israeli airstrike had risen to 37, with ongoing efforts to recover more bodies from the rubble.
Lebanese Health Minister, Firas Abiad, condemned the attack, stating, “Targeting civilians is a clear violation of human rights.”
Additionally, Lebanon’s Minister of Public Works and Transport, Ali Hamieh, echoed these sentiments, accusing Israel of committing a massacre in Beirut’s southern suburbs.
The attack, which primarily targeted a densely populated area, has drawn international attention and criticism.
In a related development, Hezbollah announced the deaths of two of its commanders in the airstrike, along with 16 other members of the group.
This comes as a major blow to Hezbollah, which had recently suffered a setback when thousands of its communication devices were destroyed in a series of explosions.
The southern suburbs of Beirut, often referred to as Dahiya, are known to be a stronghold of Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Shiite militant group.
Over the years, the area has been the target of multiple Israeli airstrikes, especially during periods of heightened conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
The ongoing conflict dates back to the Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon in the 1980s and the subsequent withdrawal in 2000. However, tensions flared significantly in 2006 during the 34-day war between Israel and Hezbollah, which left parts of Beirut and southern Lebanon in ruins.
