Israeli Strikes Kill at Least 31 Across Lebanon, Major Attacks in Southern Beirut

Warplanes attack multiple towns and villages across southern Lebanon

There is some cautious optimism that Israel’s cabinet may accept a ceasefire on Tuesday. Monday, however, saw the Israeli military continuing to intensify attacks across Lebanese territory, showing no sign that the war might really be over soon.

At least 31 people have been reported killed in various attacks. 62 people were also wounded, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. The largest number of attacks were reported around southern suburbs of Beirut, and a substantial number of small towns and villages in southern Lebanon were also hit.

Attacks in southern Beirut reportedly targeted buildings across residential areas in several suburbs. The strikes in particular hit apartments near al-Hassanein complex and Sayyed al-Shuhada complex. These are in very densely populated areas.

The Israeli military claimed that they had targeted 25 “terror targets” belonging to Hezbollah, and mentioned strikes in Nabatiyeh and Baalbek, along with the southern Beirut residential districts they’d hit.

In addition to the airstrikes, fighting continued in southern Lebanon, with Hezbollah continuing to attack invading Israeli ground troops. One Israeli Merkava tank was reported destroyed by a guided missile.

Nearly 3,800 people have been reported killed in Lebanon since Israel began an invasion in early October. The ceasefire that is to be voted upon reportedly will not require Israel to stop launching its daily airstrikes on Lebanese soil, but would proscribe the removal of ground troops from Lebanon, and Hezbollah being required to move north of the Litani River.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.