By Middle East Correspondent
LONDON, (The Muslim News): At least seven civilians have been killed and more than 20 injured in Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon, as Israel and the United States illegal attacks against Iran shows no sign of easing. Israeli warplanes also destroyed two civilian bridges over the Litani River linking Sohmor and Machghara, cutting a key civilian and logistical route.
Strikes hit dozens of locations across Lebanon on Friday, including areas in the south, the Bekaa Valley and the capital Beirut. In the western Bekaa town of Sohmor, a drone strike targeted Muslim worshippers leaving a mosque, killing two people and wounding 15 others.
Further attacks in southern Lebanon, including Yahmar al-Shaqif and Burj Qalawiyeh, left additional casualties, while airstrikes on Majadel and Shaaitiyeh killed and injured several Syrian nationals. A separate strike in Srifa triggered a large fire that emergency crews have struggled to contain.
Lebanese authorities say that more than 1,345 people have been killed and around 4,000 injured since the escalation began.
Israeli warplanes also destroyed two civilian bridges over the Litani River linking Sohmor and Machghara, cutting a key civilian and logistical route.
The Israeli military claimed the strikes were intended to restrict Hezbollah’s operational capabilities, stating that the goal was to “prevent the transfer of reinforcements and weapons to Hezbollah.”
The Litani River is a critical artery for civilians in southern Lebanon, and the destruction of crossings has raised concerns over civilian mobility and humanitarian access.
Hezbollah said in retaliation it carried out 38 attacks in the past 24 hours on Israeli positions, settlements and military targets.
In a statement, the group said its operations were conducted “in defence of Lebanon and its people” amid ongoing Israeli strikes.
The group says it has launched more than 1,400 operations since early March, targeting areas including Kiryat Shmona, Metula and Nahariya in northern Israel. There has been no confirmation from Israeli authorities regarding casualties from these attacks.
Hezbollah said it hit an Israeli warship 68 miles off the coast of Lebanon at 00:05 AM on Sunday with a naval cruise missile. No information is available on the damages, injuries or casualties.
Local journalists report that the Lebanese armed forces retreated from Christian border villages under pressure from the Americans, so that Israel could force out the Christian residents and use their towns to attack adjacent Shia villages where Hezbollah is repelling their invasion.
Attacks by US-Israel against Iranian civilian infrastructures continue
The violence in Lebanon forms part of a broader regional escalation by Israel and the United States against Iran.
The US/Israel are continuing to target civilian infrastructure. They bombed the Laser and Plasma Research Institute as well as the girls’ dormitory of Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran.
Aid agencies warn the human cost of the conflict is escalating rapidly, with millions affected across multiple countries.
The Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said, “Since 1 March, WHO has verified over 20 attacks on health care in Iran, resulting in at least nine deaths, including that of an infectious diseases health worker and a member of the Iranian Red Crescent Society.”
He added, “The conflict in Iran, and the region, is impacting the delivery of health services and the safety of health workers, patients, and civilians present at health facilities. Peace is the best medicine.” The conflict is due to US and Israeli attacks on civilian targets in Iran.
The WHO estimates that more than four million people have been displaced, with at least 3,300 killed and 30,000 injured across the region.
In Lebanon, continued Israeli strikes on towns, infrastructure and transport routes have forced families from their homes and placed severe strain on essential services.
The WHO has called for urgent international support, warning that health systems in Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, Syria and Jordan are under growing pressure and struggling to cope with rising casualties.
Amid the escalating conflict, senior religious figures in the United States have raised ethical concerns.
Timothy Broglio, who oversees Catholic chaplains serving in the US military, told CBS News the war buy US does not meet the criteria for a just conflict.
“Under just war theory, no,” he said, arguing that the war is based on a potential rather than immediate threat.
He urged US troops to minimise harm, adding, “Do as little harm as you can, and preserve innocent lives.”
Broglio also criticised political rhetoric by US framing the war in religious terms, saying: “It’s hard to cast this war as something that would be sponsored by the Lord.”
Meanwhile, two US pilots were recued the US forces after their aircraft was shot down by Iranian home made anti aircraft missiles.
According to the American CBS news, the US evacuated the 2nd crew member from Iran, after 24h and blew up its own planes.
The American weapons officer hid among the mountains and escaped from Iran. Two C-130 rescue aircraft became stranded on the ground in Iran.
After moving away from the area, the weapons officer activated the tracking devices he had with him, which helped locate him.
At the end of the operation, while preparing to leave Iran, the two C-130 rescue aircraft became stuck on the ground and were unable to take off. So the US sent 3 other aircrafts & blew up its two C-130 so that it wouldn’t fall into Iran’s hands.
However, according to Iran’s Khatam Al Anbiya, one C-130 and 2 Black Hawk helicopters were hit by Iran which caused them to catch fire and not able to fly.
Iranian state media reported that its air defence systems targeted US aircraft over the Persian Gulf, while US officials confirmed that at least one downed aircraft’s pilot had been rescued.
The White House said President Donald Trump had been briefed on the incident, as tensions between Washington and Tehran continue to rise.
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts appear to have stalled. Iranian media reported that a proposed 48-hour ceasefire put forward by the United States earlier this week was not formally accepted, with Tehran instead continuing military operations.
Meanwhile, according to Head of Russia’s Rosatom company, the bombing of the Bushehr power plant occurred in a special protected area, and the likelihood of a nuclear accident is increasing. 198 Russian employees of the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran have been evacuated since Saturday morning.
[Photo: A view of the damaged Shahid Beheshti University following a military strike carried out by the United States and Israel on civilian infrastructures on April 06, 2026 in the Velenjak district of Tehran, Iran. Photojournalist: Fatemeh Bahrami/AA]
