BEIRUT, Lebanon — At least 16 people were killed and 35 others injured after a series of Israeli airstrikes targeted the town of Nabi Chit in eastern Lebanon, according to officials from the Lebanese Ministry of Health. The attack marks one of the latest escalations in the intensifying conflict between Israel Defense Forces and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.
Lebanese authorities said multiple airstrikes hit Nabi Chit, a town located in the Bekaa Valley near the Syrian border. The Lebanese Ministry of Health’s Emergency Operations Center described the casualties as a preliminary toll and warned that the number could rise as rescue teams continue searching damaged buildings for survivors.
Witnesses reported hearing several explosions during the overnight bombardment, which caused heavy destruction to homes and infrastructure. Ambulances and civil defense teams rushed to the area to evacuate the wounded and recover victims trapped under rubble.
Reports indicated that the strikes came amid a broader Israeli military operation in eastern Lebanon. Some accounts suggested that Israeli forces briefly landed in the area before intense fighting erupted with Hezbollah fighters and local armed groups, prompting heavy aerial bombardment to cover their withdrawal.
The Israel Defense Forces have not immediately issued a detailed statement regarding the specific strikes on Nabi Chit. However, Israeli officials have previously said their operations in Lebanon are aimed at targeting Hezbollah positions and preventing cross-border attacks on northern Israel.
The attack occurred as hostilities continue to expand across the region, with frequent missile exchanges and airstrikes reported along the Israel-Lebanon border and deeper inside Lebanese territory. Authorities say hundreds of people have been killed or injured in recent days as the conflict intensifies.
Lebanese officials and humanitarian organizations warned that the ongoing strikes risk worsening the country’s already fragile humanitarian situation, with thousands of civilians displaced from their homes amid the escalating violence.
Emergency responders continued operations through the night in Nabi Chit, working to extinguish fires, clear debris, and transport the injured to nearby hospitals. Local authorities urged residents to remain cautious as the area remains vulnerable to further strikes.
The latest attack highlights the growing risk that the confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah could widen further, raising fears of a broader regional conflict across the Middle East.