Saida Air Strike (2025)

On 18 November 2025, Israel conducted an airstrike on the Ayn al-Hilweh Palestinian Refugee Camp in the city of Saida, Lebanon. The attack resulted in at least 13 people killed and numerous others injured. The incident occurred during a period in which Israel continued its attacks on Lebanon despite the ceasefire agreement reached in November 2024.

Location and Timing of the Attack

The attack took place on Tuesday, 18 November 2025, at the Ayn al-Hilweh Palestinian Refugee Camp in Saida, also known as Sidon, in southern Lebanon. The Lebanese Ministry of Health stated that the strike occurred in the evening and targeted a facility within the camp. According to the state news agency NNA, the Israeli military launched three missiles at the area surrounding the Khalid ibn al-Walid Mosque. After the strike, gunfire was heard in the region and numerous ambulances were dispatched to the scene.

Casualties and Injured

The Lebanese Ministry of Health reported that 13 people lost their lives as a result of the attack and many others were injured. It was stated that the wounded were taken to hospitals in Saida and that appeals for blood donations were made. Some sources indicated that the strike targeted both a facility within the camp and the area around the mosque, and that precise figures on the number of injured had not been released.

Israeli Military Statement

The Israeli military claimed responsibility for the strike and asserted that the targeted facility was a Hamas “training base”. In its statement, the Israeli military claimed that the facility had been used to plan attacks against Israel. Israeli Arabic spokesperson Avichay Adraee said, “We will show no tolerance for any threat along our northern border. We will not allow Hamas to rebuild in Lebanon.”

Reactions from Palestinian Groups and Lebanese Authorities

Hamas rejected Israel’s claims and described the attack as a “brutal assault.” In a statement, the group said, “The Zionist bombardment is a barbaric attack against innocent Palestinian civilians and Lebanon’s sovereignty.” Hamas also stated that the targeted site was not a military installation but an open sports field where young people gathered.

Following the attack, Palestinian factions in Saida declared a general mourning period and condemned the strike. The Lebanese Ministry of Health confirmed that ambulances were still transporting the wounded to hospitals and that the situation in the area remained critical.

Developments After the Attack

Shortly after the Saida attack, on the morning of 19 November 2025, the Israeli military carried out a drone strike on a vehicle in the town of Attiri, located in the Nabatieh governorate. During this strike, a school bus passing through the area was hit, resulting in multiple students and the driver being injured.