Death Toll in Beirut Climbs to 37 After Israeli Airstrike, Lebanese Authorities Report
The death toll from an Israeli airstrike on Beirut’s southern suburbs rose to 37 on Saturday, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. Rescue teams worked tirelessly through the day, combing through the debris of collapsed buildings in the Dahieh district—a Hezbollah stronghold—hoping to find survivors among the wreckage.
Excavators were deployed to assist in clearing the rubble as medical personnel assessed the scene. Many family members anxiously awaited word of missing loved ones amid the chaotic aftermath of the attack, which also left 68 people injured, including women and children.
Friday’s airstrike marked the third Israeli assault on the Lebanese capital this year, raising concerns of a potential full-scale war in the already volatile region. Rosemary Di Carlo, a senior United Nations official, warned that the Middle East risked descending into a conflict far more devastating than anything previously witnessed.
Among those killed in the attack were Ibrahim Aqil and Ahmed Wahbi, both senior commanders in Hezbollah’s elite Radwan forces, the group confirmed. Lebanon’s health minister, Dr. Firass Abiad, condemned the strike, calling it a “clear violation of international humanitarian law.” He emphasized that the civilians killed were not connected to Hezbollah. “These were innocent women and children who happened to be in the wrong place,” Abiad said.
Israel’s military released a statement following the airstrike, confirming that they had targeted a meeting of high-ranking Hezbollah officials in the densely populated Dahieh area. They claimed that 12 senior commanders in Hezbollah’s Radwan forces were killed in what the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) called a “precise strike.”
The rising death toll has added to fears of a larger-scale confrontation between Hezbollah and Israel, although neither side appears eager to escalate into all-out war. While Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has vowed “just punishment” for Israel’s actions, neither Hezbollah nor its main backer, Iran, seem interested in provoking a broader conflict.
This latest escalation comes just days after a series of explosions involving pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah killed 39 people and injured hundreds more. The cause of the blasts is still under investigation, though Hezbollah has blamed Israel for what it calls an act of sabotage.
The cross-border tensions have been mounting since October 8, 2023, when Hezbollah began shelling Israeli positions following a surprise Hamas assault on Israel from Gaza. In the weeks since, hundreds—mostly Hezbollah fighters—have died in the clashes, with tens of thousands of people displaced on both sides of the Lebanon-Israel border.
As Israel shifts its focus northward, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced the next phase of Israel’s military operations, further heightening concerns of a broader conflict.
While the region braces for further developments, the humanitarian toll continues to mount. As rescue workers clear the devastation, the people of Lebanon grapple with the harsh reality of escalating violence in a country already weary from ongoing conflict.