Sidon, Lebanon – On November 18, 2025, an Israeli airstrike targeted the Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp located on the outskirts of Sidon in southern Lebanon. The attack killed at least 11 people and injured several others, escalating already heightened tensions in the region amid ongoing border clashes and recent ceasefire breakdowns.
The Israeli Defense Forces stated the strike targeted a Hamas training facility they claimed was located within the camp and involved preparations for an attack on Israeli forces. However, militants and the camp residents denied the presence of such militant installations, reporting that civilian areas including a mosque and an open sports field bore the brunt of the missile strikes.
Lebanese authorities and humanitarian organizations condemned the attack, denouncing it as a violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty and a grave violation of international law. The Lebanese government accused Israel of targeting civilians, while Israel defended its action as an act of self-defense against threats emanating from the camp.
This airstrike follows a pattern of recurring violence in the region, with thousands displaced by previous clashes. Humanitarian groups have highlighted the worsening humanitarian crisis in body strained refugee camps, warning of deteriorating living conditions and mounting instability.
Efforts to broker lasting peace remain fragile, and the recent Israeli strike threatens to further destabilize an already volatile border area between Israel and Lebanon, underscoring the urgency for renewed diplomatic engagements.
