The Lebanese Ministry of Health reported Friday that Israeli airstrikes in Eastern Lebanon have killed 52 people and injured 72 others, as tensions in the region continue to escalate. This latest attack is part of an ongoing campaign of airstrikes that have targeted Lebanon since October 8, 2023, leaving a significant humanitarian toll.
Casualties and Widespread Displacement
Lebanon’s Public Health Emergency Operations Center, affiliated with the Ministry of Health, released updated casualty figures from Israeli airstrikes conducted between October 8 and Thursday. According to the report, a total of 2,897 people have been killed, and 13,150 have been injured across Lebanon.
The relentless violence has forced a large number of civilians to flee, resulting in 188,298 registered displaced persons (or 43,802 families), with the majority seeking refuge in the Mount Lebanon and Beirut regions. The Lebanese government has opened 1,132 shelters, but 945 of these facilities are now operating at full capacity.
Border Closures Impacting the Region
On Friday, an Israeli strike near a key border crossing between Northeast Lebanon and Syria led to another closure of the crossing, which had only recently reopened on a limited basis. Lebanese Minister of Transportation Ali Hamieh confirmed that the airstrike also struck a site inside Syrian territory, adding that the partial reopening had been limited to passenger vehicles, excluding trucks. The crossing has been closed once again following the latest strike.
Israel’s ongoing airstrikes and subsequent border disruptions continue to strain Lebanon’s infrastructure and resources, creating one of the most significant humanitarian crises in the region.
