Easter turns deadly in Lebanon as Israeli airstrikes kill 11

Beirut and southern villages hit amid escalating U.S.-Israel–Iran conflict..

BEIRUT: Easter Sunday turned tragic for Lebanon as Israeli airstrikes killed at least 11 people, including a 4-year-old child, and injured dozens more in what the Lebanese health ministry described as one of the most violent days since the war with Israel began last month.

In the village of Kfarhata, seven people lost their lives following an overnight evacuation warning from the Israeli military, which urged residents to leave. Meanwhile, four people were killed and 39 others injured in the Jnah neighborhood of Beirut, as the southern suburbs of the capital were pounded by eight separate strikes.

Throughout the day, the sounds of explosions and low-flying jets reverberated across the city, leaving residents fearful and displaced. Earlier in southern Lebanon, the army reported the death of a soldier in an Israeli strike, highlighting the widespread toll on both civilians and military personnel.

The violence comes as Lebanon marks Easter, a holiday observed by its Christian population, which makes up roughly a third of the country. Instead of celebrations, families faced devastation and uncertainty, sheltering in basements or fleeing their homes.

The current escalation is part of a broader conflict tied to the ongoing U.S.-Israel war with Iran. Lebanon became a direct target when Iranian-backed Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel on March 2 in support of Tehran. In response, Israel has carried out airstrikes and ground operations in southern Lebanon, aiming to create a “security zone” up to 30 kilometers (20 miles) inside Lebanese territory. Evacuation orders have covered roughly 15% of the country.

Despite the warnings, tens of thousands of Lebanese residents, including around 9,000 Christians in border towns, have refused to leave, choosing to remain in their homes despite the danger. “We have nowhere else to go,” one resident told Reuters. “This is our home, and we will not abandon it.”

The human toll continues to climb. As of Sunday, the Lebanese health ministry reported 1,461 deaths since the start of the war, with 39 more fatalities recorded in the past 24 hours alone. More than a million people have been displaced, struggling to find safety amid airstrikes and cross-border fighting.

On Saturday, Israel issued evacuation warnings at the Masnaa border crossing with Syria, accusing Hezbollah of using the route for military operations. The ongoing conflict has already claimed the lives of over 400 Hezbollah fighters and at least 10 Israeli troops in southern Lebanon.

As Easter turned into a day of mourning, the plight of civilians caught between warring powers highlights the intensifying humanitarian crisis in Lebanon. Families, communities, and rescue teams continue to cope with the uncertainty, seeking safety in a conflict that shows little sign of abating.