Daijiworld Media Network - Lebanon

Lebanon, Nov 22: Israel’s military on Friday said a recent strike on Ain al-Helweh, a Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon, killed “13 Hamas terrorists,” including a senior operative involved in training militants targeting Israel.

Lebanese authorities, however, reported at least 13 deaths without confirming their identities. Hamas in Lebanon later released the names and photos of the deceased on its Telegram channel, calling the strike a “horrific massacre” that killed “several innocent civilian martyrs.” A local secondary school also said two of its students were among the dead.

The Israeli army said the strike targeted Hamas’s training compound and vowed to continue operations against the group “wherever they operate.” A military video showed a building being hit, though Hamas claimed the site was “an open sports field frequented by youth,” with those killed being young boys.

Ain al-Helweh, near Sidon, is Lebanon’s largest Palestinian refugee camp. The attack comes despite a November ceasefire aimed at halting hostilities involving Hamas allies, including Hezbollah. Israel accused militant groups of exploiting civilians and infrastructure within the camps.