Israeli warplanes unleashed a series of intense airstrikes across eastern Lebanon on Saturday, resulting in a devastating toll on civilian lives and infrastructure. The attacks, targeting multiple towns in Baalbek District and surrounding areas, claimed the lives of at least 32 people and injured more than 37, with fears that the casualty numbers may rise.

Among the most harrowing aggression was an airstrike on a home in the town of Shmistar, where a mother and her four children were killed. According to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, the death toll in Shmistar alone has reached 13, with another 13 injured and additional body parts recovered from the rubble.

في بلدة #شمسطار البقاعية ارتقى أكثر من 20 من المدنيين في مجـزرة جديدة إضافة الى عدد من الجرحى والمفقودين..

هذه هي أهدافهم.. هذا هو إرهابهم!! pic.twitter.com/IUGEZO6WtY

— زينب عواضة (@Zeinab__Awada) November 23, 2024

Airstrikes in the nearby towns of Buday and Flaoui added to the death toll. Five people were killed and five injured in Buday, including two critically, while Flaoui witnessed four fatalities and three injuries. The town of Brital also reported one martyr from the strikes.

Additional raids in Talia and the outskirts of Hortaala, as well as the destruction of a historic house in Ras Al-Ain, have added to the scale of destruction. Ras Al-Ain also reported 18 injuries from subsequent airstrikes, while Hortaala recorded three.

Read more: No Hezbollah leaders targeted in Beirut strike: Exclusive

Earlier in the day, Israeli jets struck the Al-Qaa-Joussieh border crossing near Hermel, escalating the aggression against civilians and critical infrastructure. In Zahle District, an airstrike on Harat Al-Fikani in Central Bekaa killed one person and injured three others.

Other targeted areas included the Al-Asirah neighborhood in Baalbek, the plains of Addous, the road to Housh Tal Safiya, and the town of Drous.

In Sohmor, Western Bekaa, the Public Health Emergency Operations Center confirmed that an Israeli airstrike left two individuals wounded. The attacks have drawn widespread condemnation from officials and humanitarian groups, who describe them as massacres targeting civilians and an assault on Lebanon’s cultural and historical legacy.

Historical Heritage Targeted

Baalbek, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its rich history spanning over 3,000 years, has come under severe threat. Lebanese officials expressed fears that continued airstrikes could destroy its ancient landmarks, including the renowned Baalbek Citadel. Earlier strikes in the vicinity have already caused damage to the historic structure.

Lebanese officials are calling for urgent international intervention to halt the escalating violence, protect civilians, and safeguard the country's irreplaceable historical treasures. The ongoing airstrikes have left a trail of destruction and grief, amplifying fears of further aggressions in the days ahead.