Category: Middle East, News

Israeli Strikes on Lebanon: Heartbreaking Toll on Civilians

In the hills of Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, life is fragile and uncertain as Israeli strikes continue to bombard the area. In just an hour, over 30 airstrikes have been reported, leaving 46 people confirmed dead and many others critically injured. The toll is expected to rise, with countless lives hanging in the balance.

Among those fighting for survival is six-year-old Noor Mossawi. Noor lies unconscious in the pediatric intensive care unit at Rayak Hospital, her small body covered in bandages from a fractured skull. Her mother, Rima, sits by her side, holding a Quran and praying for her daughter’s recovery.

“Noor is so bright and social,” Rima shares, her voice filled with emotion. “She creates such a fun atmosphere at home. The house feels empty when she’s not around. She loves meeting new people.”

But that all changed last Monday when an Israeli missile struck near their home. Rima recounts the harrowing moments before the attack, showing us a video of Noor praying. “I was comforting her, telling her not to be afraid, that nothing would happen. She was calling on God and the prophets for help,” Rima says.

As the bombing drew closer, Rima huddled near the front door with Noor and her twin brother, Mohammed. “We weren’t brave enough to go inside,” she says. “We thought if the building was hit, it would collapse on us.”

When the bombing intensified, Rima tried to carry her children to safety. “I picked up Noor and her brother, but the missile was much faster than I was.” The blast left Mohammed with minor injuries, while Noor was left fighting for her life.

Suddenly, the hospital was rattled by another explosion as a new airstrike hit nearby. Power flickered, and the hospital staff continued working under immense pressure. Rima barely reacted—this was now a tragic routine.

Noor’s father, Abdallah, arrives, burning with rage at the injustice. “Please film my child,” he pleads. “She doesn’t know what weapons are. She doesn’t know how to fight. She was just playing at home when the bombing began. They [Israel] want to terrorize us and make us flee.”

Israel claims the strikes are aimed at Hezbollah sites, including weapons depots. But Abdallah vehemently disagrees. “We have nothing to do with weapons. I am not involved with Hezbollah. But now I wish I were, so I could protect my children,” he says, his anger palpable.

Moments later, chaos erupts downstairs as an ambulance brings in more casualties from another airstrike. The emergency department fills with tension, medical staff rushing to treat the wounded. Friends and family members shout in anger, their shock evident. The hospital staff are asked to stop filming to maintain some sense of order amid the chaos.

According to Dr. Basil Abdallah, the medical director at Rayak Hospital, over 400 casualties have been admitted since Monday, all civilians. Of these, more than 100 have lost their lives, and several families have lost multiple members.

The toll on hospital staff is immense. “Seeing children, elderly patients, and women bombed—it’s difficult,” Dr. Abdallah shares. “Most of the nurses and doctors are depressed. We are human. We have emotions.” The staff remain at the hospital, unable to risk the journey home as the bombardment continues.

Israel’s strikes are widespread across Lebanon, with seemingly no force to deter them. Hezbollah is putting up limited resistance, firing rockets across the border, while their main backer, Iran, remains on the sidelines.

Dr. Abdallah is deeply concerned about the future. Already running low on essential supplies and medications, he fears this conflict will drag on for a long time, worsening the humanitarian crisis. As the bombings continue, the people of Lebanon are left in a desperate struggle for survival, uncertain of what tomorrow might bring.