Lebanon Counts 15 Fatalities After Israeli Strikes on Wednesday

In a shocking turn of events, 15 people lost their lives in Israeli strikes on Wednesday, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. The strikes targeted several areas in Lebanon, including the villages of Joun and Maaysra, resulting in widespread destruction and loss of life.

According to the Lebanese health ministry, an Israeli strike on the village of Joun in the Chouf mountains, southeast of Beirut, claimed the lives of four people. In Maaysra, another Israeli strike killed three people, destroying a house and a cafe. Eight additional fatalities were reported in Israeli strikes in the south, the ministry said.

Lebanon’s National News Agency reported that two rockets fell in Maaysra, while a Lebanese security official told AFP that an Israeli strike targeted a house in the village, requesting anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. A resident of the village described the strike as devastating, stating that it destroyed a house and a cafe.

The Israeli military confirmed that it was carrying out "extensive" air strikes in south Lebanon and the eastern Beqaa Valley in response to Hezbollah’s firing of a ballistic missile that reached the central Israeli city of Tel Aviv for the first time before being intercepted. The missile was launched from Lebanon, marking a significant escalation in the conflict.

Longtime foes Hezbollah and Israel have been locked in near-daily exchanges of cross-border fire since Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, sparking war in Gaza. The focus of Israel’s firepower has shifted sharply from Gaza to Lebanon in recent days.

The latest developments in the conflict have left many questioning the future of the region and the impact of these events on civilians.