Israeli Strikes Kill 361 Civilians in Lebanon, Prompting War Crimes Allegations
On 8 April, Israeli military operations unleashed a devastating wave of approximately 100 air strikes across Lebanon within a 10-minute window, resulting in 361 fatalities and over 1,000 injuries, according to Lebanese authorities. While Israel asserted these strikes targeted Hezbollah command centres and military sites, the documented civilian toll, particularly in densely populated urban areas, casts a long shadow over these claims.
Hay el Sellom Neighbourhood Devastated
In Beirut's southern suburbs, the Hay el Sellom neighbourhood bore the brunt of multiple strikes, transforming a vibrant community into a wasteland of collapsed structures. Residents, like Mohammed, whose son Abbas was killed in the attack, maintain there were no Hezbollah elements in their building. Mohammed, who lost his second home and his son, stated, "This brick can be rebuilt. But nothing will bring back my son." Lebanese health officials report over 80 deaths in Hay el Sellom alone, with analysis indicating at least 15 children among the deceased. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) offered no specific details on targets in Hay el Sellom, nor did they confirm whether a reported senior Hezbollah figure was the intended target, despite a memorial poster identifying him as a fighter.
Corniche al Mazraa and Sidon Also Hit
Central Beirut's Corniche al Mazraa, a busy civilian area, was also struck without warning, killing 16 people. A fitness instructor, Noha, described the chaos: "I looked out and found the world was black. I found people all covered in blood." Independent investigations found no evidence of Hezbollah targets in this area, a point the IDF again failed to address. Further south, the city of Sidon saw bombs flatten the al Zahraa religious complex, leading to the deaths of Rahma, 27, and Rayan, 22, two young women seeking safety, as well as the complex's cleric, Sheikh Sadiq Naboulsi, and a senior Hezbollah official. However, seven other individuals killed there appear to have been civilians.
Israel's Stated Justification and Civilian Harm
Israel termed its operation "Eternal Darkness," claiming to have targeted 250 Hezbollah operatives. However, the Lebanese health ministry disputes this, asserting the vast majority of those killed were civilians. The IDF stated it made "extensive efforts to mitigate harm to uninvolved individuals," but simultaneously accused Hezbollah of "cynical exploitation of Lebanese civilians as human shields." Hezbollah, which the UK, US, and some Gulf Arab states proscribe as a terrorist organisation, denies these allegations, stating that Israel deliberately targets civilians as a pressure tactic and that their actions are in self-defence. The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza, adding further scrutiny to Israeli military conduct in the region.
