Israeli Airstrikes In Lebanon Kill Over 160 Children Amid Ongoing Conflict With Hezbollah

Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon have killed at least 168 children and more than 2,100 people overall during six weeks of renewed conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah, according to figures cited in reports, as strikes continue to hit residential areas far from the immediate front lines of war.

One of the victims was 11-year-old Jawad Younes, who was killed on March 27 in Saksakieh while playing soccer with his cousins near their homes. According to his mother, Malak Meslmani, she had briefly called him inside to take care of his younger brother before he returned to play outside, moments before an Israeli strike hit a nearby building. The blast killed Jawad, his cousin, and his uncle, and left several other children wounded.

The Israeli military has said it has been targeting Hezbollah operatives and facilities, arguing that the group operates within civilian areas and that it takes measures to reduce civilian harm. In responses to media queries, the military did not deny that children have been killed but reiterated that its operations are directed at militant targets and carried out in line with international law principles, including distinction and proportionality.

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However, residents and families of victims have accused Israel of causing excessive civilian casualties, including children killed inside homes and residential buildings. In another incident cited in reports, a three-year-old girl, Taline Shehab, was killed when an apartment strike caused part of her building to collapse in Aramoun, while her mother was critically injured. In the Bekaa Valley, 10-year-old Zeinab al-Jabali was killed in a strike that also severely wounded her mother and siblings.

Legal experts note that while international humanitarian law prohibits direct targeting of civilians, collateral civilian deaths may occur if strikes are deemed proportionate to military objectives. Analysts say assessing proportionality is difficult without full disclosure of targets or intelligence assessments, and concerns remain over the scale of civilian harm in densely populated areas.

As the conflict continues, families across Lebanon describe repeated cycles of loss and displacement, with many children among the dead or injured. Despite evacuation warnings in some regions, many residents have remained in their homes, as airstrikes continue to reshape daily life and deepen humanitarian concerns across the country.

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