Israeli strikes kill 2 in Gaza, 2 in Lebanon

Two Palestinians were killed and four others injured on Thursday in an Israeli airstrike in the Tuffah neighborhood east of Gaza City, according to Palestinian sources, reported Xinhua.

Eyewitnesses reported that an Israeli drone fired a missile at a group of Palestinians in a park in the Tuffah neighborhood.

Palestinian medical sources told Xinhua that the Israeli airstrike killed two people and wounded four others, who were taken to Al-Shifa Medical Complex.

Commenting on the incident, Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said that the continued rise in casualties resulting from the ongoing Israeli bombardment across the Gaza Strip reflects "the occupation's blatant disregard for the efforts of mediators."

Since Oct. 7, 2023, Israel has killed 72,082 Palestinians and wounded 171,761 others. The death toll since the ceasefire took effect on Oct. 10 last year has reached 618, with 1,663 wounded, according to figures from Gaza-based health authorities.

Meanwhile, two people, including a 16-year-old Syrian boy, were killed and 18 others injured in Israeli airstrikes targeting eastern Lebanon's Bekaa Valley on Thursday, reported Xinhua, quoting Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA).

NNA reported that the series of intense airstrikes hit the Baalbek area from the west, east, and north, causing damage to homes and commercial shops from the Deir El Ahmar area to the commercial markets in the city of Baalbek.

Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee said on the social media platform X that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) attacked eight military camps belonging to Hezbollah's elite Radwan Force unit in the Baalbek area.

"Large quantities of military equipment were stored inside the targeted camps, including weapons and rockets belonging to Hezbollah," Adraee said.

He added that the sites were used by Radwan Force members to conduct training "in preparation for emergency scenarios and to plan and carry out terrorist schemes against IDF forces and Israeli civilians."

Adraee described the activity at the camps and Hezbollah's attempts to rearm as violations of "the understandings between Israel and Lebanon and a threat to security."

There was no immediate comment from Hezbollah.

The strikes come despite a U.S.- and French-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah that took effect on Nov. 27, 2024. Israel has continued to conduct occasional strikes in Lebanon, saying they are aimed at removing Hezbollah "threats," and has maintained forces at five key points along the border after a deadline for its full withdrawal expired on Feb. 18 last year.