TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel expanded its bombardment in Lebanon on Saturday, hitting Beirut’s southern suburbs with a dozen airstrikes and striking a Palestinian refugee camp deep in northern Lebanon for the first time.
The attack on the Beddawi camp near the northern city of Tripoli killed an official with Hamas’ military wing along with his wife and two young daughters, the Palestinian militant group said in a statement. Hamas later said another member of its military wing was killed in an Israeli strike in Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa Valley.
Israel’s military said it killed two senior officials with Hamas’ military wing in Lebanon, one near Tripoli. Israel has killed several Hamas officials in Lebanon since the Israel-Hamas war began almost a year ago, in addition to most of the top leadership of Hezbollah as the fighting has escalated in Lebanon in recent weeks.
Plumes of smoke dominated the skyline over Beirut’s densely populated southern suburbs, where Hezbollah has a strong presence. Israel says it is targeting Hezbollah commanders and military equipment and aims to drive the militant group away from shared borders.