Israel airstrikes on Lebanon kill civilians, including dozens of children

Amnesty International documented three Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon in March that destroyed homes in al‑Thakana, Irkay and al‑Rahbat, killing 24 civilians – half of them children aged five to 16 – and wounding 18 others. The organization said the attacks violated international humanitarian law and constituted war crimes.

On 8 April, a separate Israeli raid hit Beirut, striking densely‑populated neighborhoods. Early reports indicated dozens of deaths and hundreds of injuries, extensive damage to homes and infrastructure, and a surge in humanitarian needs. Lebanese authorities and aid groups struggled to reach victims amid blocked roads and disrupted communications, while the bombing deepened social and economic strains in a city already weakened by years of conflict.

Both incidents prompted international condemnation and calls for investigations, highlighting the severe impact on Lebanon’s civilian population and raising concerns about the legality of the strikes.