Thu Nov 07 11:38:14 UTC 2024: ## Israeli Air Strikes Kill 40 in Eastern Lebanon, Rescue Efforts Ongoing
**BEIRUT, Lebanon** – At least 40 people have been killed and 53 injured in a series of Israeli air strikes on the Bekaa Valley and the city of Baalbek in eastern Lebanon, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health. The attacks, which took place on Wednesday, targeted densely populated areas, including the Shikan district of Baalbek, a Sunni neighborhood within the Shia-majority city.
Among the victims were 11 people killed in Baalbek, with nine of them in Shikan. Another 16 people were killed in the village of Nasriyah. Rescue operations are ongoing, with teams searching for survivors under the rubble.
The attacks came shortly after Hezbollah’s new secretary-general, Naim Qassem, expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of political action in ending Israel’s offensive. While he said indirect negotiations could be a possibility if Israel stopped its bombardment, he did not rule out the possibility of further conflict.
Since the start of the war on Gaza, Israeli attacks have resulted in at least 3,050 deaths and 13,658 injuries in Lebanon, according to the Ministry of Health.
First Piper 