Israeli strikes kill 35 across Lebanon as offensive expands

2026-03-18 - 13:30

BEIRUT — Israeli airstrikes killed at least 35 people and wounded 61 others across Lebanon since early Wednesday, as Israel expanded its military campaign, according to medics and local media.Six people were killed when airstrikes destroyed five homes in the town of Sohmor in the western Bekaa Valley, state news agency NNA reported.In Baalbek, four people were killed and seven wounded in another strike, while four Syrians were killed in a separate attack in Jibchit in Nabatieh, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.The Civil Defense Directorate said 11 of its personnel were wounded when a strike hit near their center in Nabatieh.Three people were killed in Habboush in southern Lebanon, with rescue teams searching for eight missing, the ministry added.An Israeli strike on a vehicle along Sidon’s coastal road killed two people, including a paramedic, and wounded another.Additional strikes killed one person in Borj Qallawiya and three in Qanaarit, according to state media.In Beirut, at least 12 people were killed and 41 wounded in three strikes targeting the Basta and Zokak al-Blat areas, the Health Ministry said.Lebanese authorities said Israel issued evacuation warnings for multiple areas, triggering panic among civilians, including displaced residents in Sidon.Since March 2, at least 912 people have been killed and 2,221 injured in Israeli strikes across Lebanon, according to official figures.