Israeli Airstrikes: Casualties Mount in Lebanon and Gaza

Sunday saw a surge in violence as Israeli airstrikes hit Lebanon and northern Gaza, causing dozens of deaths, including children. This comes amid global attention to the U. S. election's potential impact on conflicts with Iranian-backed groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been in close contact with U. S. President Donald Trump, emphasizing the Iranian threat. Meanwhile, the Israeli military struck a village in northern Lebanon, killing 23 people, including seven kids, with no prior evacuation warning. No Israeli comment was immediately available. Hezbollah retaliated with rockets, drones, and missiles after the war in Gaza began. Israel responded, leading to a full-blown conflict. In Gaza's Jabaliya refugee camp, another Israeli strike killed 17 people, mostly women. The military claimed to target militants but provided no evidence. Separately, a minister in the Hamas government and his family were killed in their Gaza City home.

Israel has been striking deeper into Lebanon since September, when it killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and top commanders. Hezbollah expanded its rocket fire from northern to central Israel, with over 3, 000 deaths in Lebanon and over 70 in Israel. After the strike in Lebanon's Aalmat, a legislator denied any Hezbollah presence in the targeted building. In Syria, an Israeli airstrike hit a residential building in Damascus, with at least three fatalities. Israel did not comment immediately. The Biden administration has given Israel an ultimatum to allow more aid into Gaza or risk U. S. military funding cuts. Israeli forces have isolated northern Gaza towns, restricting humanitarian aid and risking famine. The war in Gaza started in October 2023 when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel, killing over 1, 200 people and abducting around 250. Israel's offensive has killed over 43, 000 Palestinians, with over half being women and children. Ceasefire talks have repeatedly stalled.

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