At least 18 people lost their lives in an overnight Israeli airstrike on the Al Aqsa Martyrs Mosque located in Deir el Balah, central Gaza, per Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital. The hospital, which is situated directly opposite the mosque, has reportedly been a place of refuge for displaced Palestinians.
According to CNN, the Israeli military acknowledged conducting the strike, describing it as “precise.” It also claimed that it had aimed at a Hamas “command and control” center situated “within the compound.”
“Prior to the strike, numerous steps were taken to mitigate the risk of harming civilians, including the use of precise munitions, aerial surveillance, and additional intelligence information,” said the statement from the Israeli military.
Blasts in Lebanon
Meanwhile, CNN’s team in Beirut, Lebanon, reported hearing a series of continuous blasts and explosions over the last two to three hours, with no signs of it stopping.
While the exact number of explosions is uncertain, a CNN team member characterized the detonations in the southern suburbs of Beirut as one of the most prolonged and intense sequences they’ve witnessed.
At least two of the blasts resulted in what seemed to be secondary explosions, with one impacting the road leading to the airport, located approximately 2.5 kilometers from the airport itself.
