Military operation was justified by the Israeli Army as an action against Hamas
They broke the ceasefire established in and carried out a bombing this Tuesday (11/18) against the Palestinian refugee camp Ain al-Hilweh, in the south of the country, resulting in the death of at least 13 people and leaving several others injured. The military operation, which targeted the largest Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon, was justified by the Israeli Army as an action against Hamas, without presenting concrete evidence about the group’s presence there.
In a statement, the IDF said the attack targeted a Hamas training compound, alleging that the site was being used to plan and execute attacks against Israeli forces. “Recently, the IDF attacked terrorists operating in a Hamas training compound in the Ain al-Hilweh area,” says the note, which also highlighted measures to minimize civilian harm, such as the use of accurate ammunition.
Despite Israel’s claims, the Lebanese Ministry of Health confirmed the 13 deaths and the number of injuries, although it did not detail the identities of the victims. The attack is the latest in a series of Israeli operations in Lebanese territory, which remains marked by tension, even after the signing of a ceasefire in November 2024 between Israel and Hezbollah, after 14 months of intense fighting.
The ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, mediated by several international entities, such as the UN, seeks to disarm the Lebanese Shiite group and reestablish security in the country. However, Hezbollah rejected the conditions of the agreement, which provide for the exclusivity of Lebanese state security forces over the territory. Since then, Israel has claimed that its actions in Lebanon target Hezbollah and Hamas positions, but continued military operations have drawn criticism, including attacks that have targeted even UN peacekeepers.
The escalation of violence in Lebanon, exacerbated by today’s attacks, increases pressure on the Lebanese government and the international community to seek a lasting solution and prevent a further deterioration of the security situation in the region.
