Breaking: Israeli Strikes in South Lebanon Kill at Least 21 on Sunday

The Lebanese health ministry reported that Israeli strikes on Sunday resulted in at least 21 fatalities across southern Lebanon.

In Haret Saida, located near Sidon’s port city, nine individuals lost their lives and 38 were injured, the ministry confirmed. Additionally, seven people—including a nurse and three emergency workers—were killed in the southern village of Ain Baal, while another five died in Burj al-Shemali.

A strike in Haret Saida, roughly 60 kilometers from the Israeli border, leveled the top floor of a three-story building, according to an AFP correspondent. Nearby structures sustained damage, and the Lebanese army has since restricted access to the area, now populated by civilians fleeing other regions of southern Lebanon amid Israel’s ongoing offensive against Hezbollah, which began in September. According to AFP, no evacuation warning was issued before the strike.

In Ain Baal, among the deceased were three rescue workers from an Al-Riossala Association center, a charity affiliated with the Amal political party, a Hezbollah ally. A nurse and three other bystanders were also killed in this attack, the health ministry reported.

In Burj al-Shemali, an Israeli drone strike near a school managed by the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) claimed additional lives. The local municipal leader, quoted by ANI news agency, confirmed that the UNRWA school itself was not directly hit and reported no injuries there.

As of now, at least 1,620 individuals have died since the conflict began on September 23, based on health ministry figures compiled by AFP.