Israeli drone strike hit a vehicle and nearby buildings in the Ain al-Helweh Palestinian refugee camp near Sidon in southern Lebanon, killing 13 people and injuring several others. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said the strike targeted a Hamas training compound allegedly used to plan attacks on Israel. The attack involved precision munitions and was intended to limit civilian casualties according to the Israeli military.

Hamas denied having military facilities in the refugee camps and condemned the strike as a massacre of innocent civilians. The Palestinian group released names and photos of the 13 killed, describing many of them as young men. Lebanese authorities confirmed the casualties but did not specify identities. The camp, housing generations of Palestinian refugees since 1948, is densely populated and located on the outskirts of Sidon city.

This strike is part of ongoing Israeli military operations in Lebanon amid tensions following last year's ceasefire with Hezbollah. Israel accuses Hamas and other militant groups of exploiting civilian areas for military purposes. Despite the ceasefire agreement, strikes in southern Lebanon targeting militant infrastructure continue, escalating the fragile security situation in the region.

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The international community has expressed concern about the impact of such attacks on civilians and the threat they pose to regional stability. The Israeli government reiterated its commitment to targeting terrorist threats while emphasizing efforts to minimize harm to non-combatants in densely populated areas.​

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