An Israeli airstrike on a Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon killed 13 people and wounded several others on Tuesday. The attack hit the Ein el-Hilweh camp near the coastal city of Sidon. The strike targeted a car parked beside a mosque, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency. The Health Ministry confirmed the death toll and reported several injuries.
Ambulances rushed to the scene as Hamas fighters blocked journalists from entering the site. The Israeli military said it targeted a Hamas training facility that planned an attack on Israel. The army stated that it will continue striking Hamas anywhere the group operates.
Hamas rejected Israel’s statement and said the strike hit a sports playground instead of a training base. The group condemned the attack.
Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon over the last two years have killed members of Hezbollah and Palestinian factions. One of the most high-profile killings was Hamas deputy political leader Saleh Arouri in January 2024.
The Israel-Hamas war began after the October 7, 2023 attack that killed about 1,200 people in Israel. Fighting expanded as Hezbollah launched rockets from Lebanon, triggering months of cross-border violence. Lebanon’s Health Ministry says more than 270 people have died since the ceasefire in late 2024.
