Israeli Strikes on Lebanon and Gaza Kill Dozens, Including Children

Israeli airstrikes on northern Lebanon and Gaza have claimed the lives of dozens, including several children, according to local officials and rescue workers. The Lebanese health ministry reported that at least 23 people, among them seven children, were killed on Sunday in Almat, a town near Byblos, north of Beirut. Rescue teams are still searching through the rubble for survivors.

In Gaza, the civil defence agency confirmed that at least 30 people were killed in strikes on two homes in northern areas of the enclave. The first strike, which occurred early Sunday in Jabalia, killed "at least 25" people, including 13 children, and injured over 30. A separate strike in the Sabra neighborhood of Gaza City resulted in five more fatalities, with some individuals still unaccounted for.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that it had targeted a location in Jabalia due to the presence of "terrorist activity," adding that precautions were taken to minimize civilian casualties. The IDF has not commented on the strike in Lebanon.

Israel has increased its military campaign against Hezbollah, focusing initially on southern Lebanon but expanding to cities and towns throughout the country in recent weeks. This escalation follows Hezbollah's rocket launches into Israel, with 70 projectiles intercepted on Saturday alone, according to Israeli military reports.

In a separate incident, three medical workers were killed when an Israeli airstrike hit an Islamic Health Authority building in Adloun, southern Lebanon. On Saturday, the Lebanese health ministry reported that 53 people were killed, with 28 fatalities in the south and 17 in Baalbek.

The conflict, which reignited seven weeks ago, has led to significant casualties: more than 3,189 deaths, 14,078 injuries, and the displacement of over 1.2 million people across Lebanon, as reported by Lebanese authorities. In Gaza, aid agencies note that Jabalia and other northern areas have been besieged since early October following Israel's intensified offensive against Hamas.

Dr. Fadel Naim, head of Al-Ahly Hospital in Gaza City, told AP that his facility had received 17 bodies from Jabalia, including nine women, with the death toll expected to climb further.