Hamas on Monday said that an Israeli strike on southern Lebanon killed one of its senior leaders, Fateh Sherif Abu el-Amin. Reports said that Amin was killed along with his wife, son, and daughter. The airstrike hit their house in a Palestinian refugee camp in Tyre early on Monday. Three other militants were also killed in the attack, as per reports.
The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a group fighting Israel alongside Hamas, reported losing three members after an Israeli strike hit the upper floor of an apartment building in Beirut’s Kola district. The strike was reportedly the first Israeli attack inside the capital’s city limits.
While Israel has not commented on the attacks, it has vowed to continue its operations saying that it wants to make northern Israel “safe” again and allow its citizens to return to their communities.
Following the killing of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, Israel intensified its strikes on Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah sites. In addition to Nasrallah, Israel also killed senior Hezbollah commanders, including Nabil Kaouk, deputy head of the group’s Central Council, and Ali Karaki. Kaouk was the seventh senior Hezbollah commander to be killed in a week of strikes.
Death Toll Rises
Nearly 1,000 people have been killed, and over 6,000 wounded across Lebanon in the latest attacks by Israel. Environment Minister Nasser Yassin told AP that around 2,50,000 people have taken shelter, with thousands more staying with relatives or camping in open spaces.
Prime Minister Najib Mitaki called it the “largest disaster” in Lebanon’s history. “One of the biggest challenges is that the government doesn’t have the means to equip the shelters,” said Laila Al Amine, director for Lebanon at Mercy Corps.
Israel also extended its strikes to Houthi rebels in Yemen’s port city of Hodeidah on Sunday, responding to missile attacks by the rebel group. Four people were killed, and 29 injured in Yemen.