Israeli Airstrike on Palestinian Refugee Camp in Lebanon Kills 13, Officials Say

An Israeli drone strike on the Ein el-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon killed 13 people and wounded several others on Tuesday, Lebanese authorities said. It was the deadliest Israeli strike on Lebanese territory since the Israel–Hezbollah ceasefire a year ago.

The attack hit a car parked near a mosque on the outskirts of Sidon, according to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency. The Health Ministry confirmed the death toll but released no further details. Hamas fighters blocked journalists from entering the area as ambulances transported the injured and recovered bodies.

The Israeli military said it targeted a Hamas training compound allegedly being used to prepare attacks on Israel. Hamas denied the claim, saying the strike hit a sports field.

Israel has intensified strikes on Lebanon over the past two years, killing senior figures from Hezbollah and Palestinian factions. High-profile Hamas official Saleh Arouri was among those killed in earlier attacks.

Tensions remain high following the 2023 Hamas assault on southern Israel and the subsequent Gaza war. Hezbollah’s involvement in cross-border fighting escalated into a full-scale conflict in late 2024, which left more than 4,000 people dead in Lebanon before a U.S.-brokered ceasefire was implemented.

Despite the ceasefire, Israel has continued launching airstrikes, saying Hezbollah is rebuilding its military capabilities. Lebanon’s Health Ministry reports more than 270 people killed and around 850 wounded by Israeli actions since late 2024.