Israeli air strikes and shelling pummeled Lebanon from Beirut to the southern regions on Sunday, killing at least 14 people and wounding dozens more in densely populated districts. The surge in violence comes as Israeli troops push deeper into southern Lebanese territory.
Al Jazeera reported that strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs claimed at least four lives. In the Jnah neighbourhood, a separate strike wounded 39 people, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health. A medical source told AFP the Jnah attack occurred approximately 100 metres from Rafik Hariri University Hospital, the country’s largest public medical facility.
In southern Lebanon, the toll was also severe. Officials confirmed that 10 people were killed in various attacks, including a family of six. In the town of Kfar Hatta, a single strike killed seven individuals, including a four-year-old girl and a Lebanese soldier.
Border chaos and strategic escalation
Beyond the human toll, the conflict has paralyzed major infrastructure. The Masnaa border crossing between Lebanon and Syria, a key gateway for civilians and trade, was forced to close after Israel threatened to target the site. By Sunday morning, the crossing was virtually deserted, with only a few guards remaining.
In Syria, Mazen Aloush with the General Authority for Borders and Customs insisted that the crossing, known as Jdeidet Yabous on the Syrian side, was “exclusively for civilian use and is not used for any military purposes.” Despite this, traffic remains suspended due to the Israeli threat.
The Israeli military stated it had “begun striking Hezbollah infrastructure sites” in Beirut’s southern suburbs, though it provided no specific evidence to support the claims. In response to the ongoing campaign, Hezbollah claimed to have fired a cruise missile at an Israeli warship positioned 126 kilometres off the Lebanese coast. The Israeli military has not commented on the claimed strike, and the report could not be independently verified.
Hostilities have escalated significantly since March 2, following Hezbollah rocket fire into Israel that occurred in response to the United States-Israeli war on Iran. According to data provided by Lebanese authorities, the conflict has resulted in more than 1,400 deaths, including 126 children, and has displaced over 1.2 million people.
While reports from France24 and Al Jazeera largely align on the casualty figures, there remains a slight discrepancy in initial reporting regarding the scale of the Sunday death toll. While Al Jazeera cited a total of 14 deaths, France24 initially reported at least 11 fatalities in its coverage. Both agencies confirm that the intensity of the air campaign across Lebanese territory is continuing to mount.
