The Israeli military reported on Thursday that it had launched strikes on numerous sites in Lebanon as part of an ongoing offensive against Hezbollah, which Lebanese officials claim has resulted in numerous fatalities.
Initially, Israel's operations were concentrated in southern Lebanon, targeting the militant group's capacity to launch rockets into Israel. However, these military actions have broadened in recent weeks to encompass various cities and towns throughout Lebanon, including areas far from the border.
On Thursday, the Israeli military stated that Hezbollah had fired over 40 projectiles into Israel. Additionally, one Israeli soldier was reported killed during clashes in northern Lebanon, where military activities have intensified over the past week.
According to the Lebanese health ministry, Israeli strikes around Baalbek, an ancient city in northeastern Lebanon, resulted in 52 casualties on Wednesday; the affiliation of the deceased with Hezbollah remains unclear. The Israeli military disclosed that it had targeted 20 locations in the Baalbek area, but it did not address a strike in Sidon, a southern coastal city where at least three fatalities were reported on Thursday.
The United Nations peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, indicated that five of its peacekeepers suffered minor injuries from a drone strike near Sidon on the same day.
In a separate incident, the Lebanese Army, which does not align with Hezbollah, reported that three of its soldiers were injured during an Israeli strike on a vehicle at a Sidon checkpoint, which also affected U.N. personnel.
Baalbek, renowned for its Roman ruins, had a population of approximately 80,000 before Israel intensified its aerial bombardments in late September, which were aimed at weakening Hezbollah's operations.
The governor of Baalbek, Bachir Khodr, noted on Wednesday that Israeli attacks have approached the city's ancient ruins more closely than previous strikes, with missiles causing damage in the vicinity. He confirmed that inspections of the ruins for damage had not yet occurred, but he shared an image of the affected area.
Designated a protected World Heritage Site by the United Nations in 1984, the ruins have been under monitoring by the U.N. agency responsible for cultural landmarks, which is collaborating with Lebanon's antiquities authority on preservation efforts amid the ongoing conflict.
Following Israeli military warnings in late October, much of Baalbek's population evacuated, and Israeli strikes have continued to target the region since then.
The Israeli military also reported airstrikes on Hezbollah command centers and infrastructure near Beirut, with residents noting at least four significant airstrikes in the area. One strike reportedly fell close to Beirut's international airport, though the transport minister stated that operations at the airport remained normal.
Since October of last year, more than 3,100 individuals have died in Lebanon, with the majority of casualties occurring during the recent escalation against Hezbollah. The Lebanese government estimates that over 1.2 million people, approximately one-fifth of the nation's population, have been displaced.
As the conflict in Lebanon escalates, Israel has intensified its military actions against Hamas in the northern Gaza Strip, announcing expanded ground operations in several areas, including Beit Lahia, which has been subjected to repeated airstrikes.
On Thursday, the Israeli military claimed a strike on a former school operated by UNRWA, alleging it was being used by Hamas for command and control purposes. Ground operations continued in Jabaliya, where an Israeli strike reportedly killed four individuals and injured 13, according to the Palestine Red Crescent Society.
The United Nations has raised alarms about a humanitarian crisis affecting hundreds of thousands trapped by the ongoing fighting in northern Gaza. The Palestinian Civil Defense reported on Thursday that its operations in the region have been hindered for 16 days due to the violence.
The International Rescue Committee warned on Wednesday that intensifying strikes on hospitals in northern Gaza have severely impeded the delivery of essential medical care, noting that eight medical staff members had been killed. The Gaza health ministry reported that military operations by Israel had resulted in at least 78 deaths in Gaza over the past two days.