BEIRUT — An Israeli airstrike Tuesday killed at least 13 people in a Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon, local officials said — an attack that risked inflaming more violence in the region and that could put pressure on the fragile ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and Hamas.
The Israeli military said in a statement that it hit a Hamas training compound.
“The military compound that was struck was used by Hamas terrorists for training and exercises in order to plan and carry out terrorist attacks against IDF troops and the State of Israel,” an Israel Defense Forces statement read. “Prior to the strike, steps were taken to mitigate harm to civilians, including the use of precise munition, aerial surveillance, and additional intelligence.”
Israeli officials have repeatedly vowed to respond militarily to what they deem violations of the ceasefire by Hamas.
The Lebanese Ministry of Public Health said that multiple people had been injured in the attack but did not specify how many. Approximately 80,000 people live in Ain al-Hilweh, the camp that was hit, according to Anera, a humanitarian organization that works there.
Hezbollah, the Lebanese political party and militant group, condemned the attacks and said it had killed civilians.
A loud explosion could be heard in the camp, after which ambulances came and went nonstop, said a resident who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal.
The strike comes just a day after the United Nations Security Council passed a U.S.-drafted resolution backing President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan for Gaza, and as Israel and the United States increase pressure to ramp up the disarmament of militant groups, including Hezbollah and Hamas.
Klimentov reported from Washington.
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