Tensions Escalate: Israeli Airstrike in Sidon Sparks Controversy

An Israeli airstrike in Sidon, Lebanon, killed 13 people, targeting a site said to be used by Hamas militants. The claim is contested by Hamas, labeling it a civilian area. Lebanon frequently experiences similar conflicts involving Hezbollah, with fragile ceasefire agreements in place, highlighting ongoing regional tensions.

In an intensifying regional conflict, an Israeli airstrike on the Lebanese city of Sidon has resulted in the deaths of 13 individuals, with several others injured, according to a statement from the Lebanese Health Ministry on Tuesday.

The Israeli military justified the strike, stating it targeted militants from the Palestinian movement Hamas allegedly operating within a training compound inside the densely populated Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp. The military emphasized that the site was being used to orchestrate attacks against Israel.

Hamas, however, has firmly refuted these claims, criticizing the attack as an unprovoked aggression against civilians. The group stated that the location was merely an open sports field utilized by camp residents, emphasizing there are no military establishments within Lebanese refugee camps. The incident underscores the volatile ceasefire agreements between Israel and Hezbollah, with persistent tensions in the region.

(With inputs from agencies.)