Israeli Airstrikes on Lebanese Refugee Camp Kill 13 | WPN World People News

Lebanon’s Ministry of Health confirmed on the 18th that Israel carried out airstrikes on Sidon, the main city in southern Lebanon, killing 13 people and injuring many others who were taken to hospital. Israel claimed that the targets of the strikes were Hezbollah, the Lebanese armed group backed by Iran, and at times Hamas members operating in the area.

Hamas later issued a statement condemning the attack. The statement accused “the Zionist occupation forces (the Israel Defense Forces)” of fabricating the claim that the strike targeted “a training camp belonging to our organization,” calling it a lie intended to justify “its criminal acts of aggression.” The Israeli attack struck an open-air sports field used by residents of the refugee camp, and there are no military facilities in Lebanese refugee camps.

Israeli forces occupy five outposts inside Lebanon and frequently carry out airstrikes in the south, claiming their targets are Iran-backed groups. Last year, Israel and Hezbollah reached a ceasefire agreement requiring Lebanese armed groups to possess no weapons in the south and obliging Israeli forces to fully withdraw from Lebanon.