Palestinian rescue workers check the scene where an Israeli strike on Tuesday night hit the Ein el-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp, in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025.
Israeli strikes in Lebanon and Gaza intensified on Wednesday as the military launched fresh attacks targeting what it described as Hezbollah and Hamas positions. The latest escalation killed dozens across both regions and raised fears of a wider conflict in the Middle East.
Deadly Israeli Strikes Hit Southern Lebanon
A wave of Israeli strikes pounded several villages in southern Lebanon on Wednesday. The military said the attacks targeted Hezbollah weapons depots and operational sites.
The assault followed a drone strike earlier in the day that killed one person and injured 11 others, including students on a passing school bus in the village of Tiri. Lebanese officials confirmed that the bus was hit only because it happened to be near the targeted car at the moment of impact.
Just a day earlier, Israeli strikes killed 13 people inside the Ein el-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp near Sidon. It was the deadliest attack in Lebanon since last year’s ceasefire ended the Israel-Hezbollah war.
On Wednesday, Israeli forces warned residents in several southern villages to evacuate. More than an hour later, heavy bombardment began in Shehour and Deir Kifa. The army accused Hezbollah of rebuilding its military infrastructure near civilian areas, though it did not provide evidence.
Hezbollah and Palestinian Groups Respond
Lebanon’s Health Ministry described scenes of chaos as paramedics searched for victims and collected human remains from the blast sites. Burned cars, shattered windows, and debris covered the streets around Ein el-Hilweh.
Israel later claimed it had struck a Hamas training compound preparing attacks. Hamas denied the accusation, saying the damaged site was only a playground.
Earlier this year, Palestinian factions in Lebanon’s 12 refugee camps began surrendering weapons to the Lebanese state. The government has also expressed intentions to disarm Hezbollah. However, Hezbollah refuses to comply as long as Israeli forces maintain positions along disputed border hills and continue daily incursions.
U.S. Pressure Over Hezbollah Disarmament
Washington has recently urged Lebanon to accelerate efforts to restrain Hezbollah. According to Lebanese military sources, the U.S. even canceled a planned visit by Lebanese army commander Gen. Rudolph Haikal after the army issued a statement blaming Israel for destabilizing the south.
The tensions follow the 2023 Israel-Hezbollah war, which erupted a day after Hamas attacked southern Israel. Israel launched a massive bombardment and ground invasion two months ago, killing more than 4,000 people in Lebanon and causing $11 billion in damage, according to the World Bank.
Israeli Strikes Kill 25 in Gaza
In Gaza, health authorities reported one of the deadliest days since the Oct. 10 ceasefire. Israeli strikes killed at least 25 Palestinians and wounded 77. The casualties came from areas on both sides of the yellow buffer line created under the ceasefire agreement.
Bodies were taken to major hospitals, including al-Ahli, Shifa, Nasser and Kuwaiti facilities. Victims included residents from Gaza City, Khan Younis, and the Muwasi displacement zone.
Israel said the strikes came after militants opened fire on its troops. Hamas rejected the claim and accused Israel of committing a “shocking massacre.”
Although Israeli strikes have decreased since the truce, they have not stopped. Gaza’s Health Ministry reported more than 300 deaths since the ceasefire began, averaging more than seven per day.
More than 69,000 Palestinians have died since Israel launched its offensive in 2023 following the Hamas-led attack that killed about 1,200 people and abducted 251.
Netanyahu Visits Controversial Syrian Buffer Zone
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made an unexpected visit to a buffer zone in Syria captured last year after the fall of President Bashar Assad. He emphasized Israel’s need for strong defense capabilities and said the situation could escalate at any moment.
Syria’s Foreign Ministry sharply condemned the visit, calling it a severe violation of sovereignty. Israeli activity in southern Syria has increased in recent months, with reports of forest clearing, land grabs, and settlement interest near the Golan Heights.
Negotiations between Syria and Israel over a security agreement have stalled, adding another layer of tension to an already volatile region.
