22 stories for 2026-03-16 · Armed conflict, civilian harm & humanitarian access
Israeli attacks on Lebanon have resulted in multiple civilian deaths, including 12 people killed in a strike on a primary healthcare center according to WHO leadership, and eight people killed in a residential home. Witnesses reported the deceased were civilians rather than armed combatants, though Israeli military stated it was targeting militant infrastructure.
The Israeli military announced on Monday that it has begun limited ground operations in southern Lebanon, targeting what it describes as key Hezbollah strongholds. Israeli strikes have killed 826 people in Lebanon according to Lebanese official figures since the conflict began.
Israeli airstrikes targeted several towns in southern Lebanon, including Qatrani, Majdal Selm, and Aitaat, killing 10 people and wounding 13 others according to Lebanon's health ministry. The strikes occurred as fighting continued along the Israel-Lebanon border, with reports indicating evacuation warnings were issued before the attacks.
Military escalation persists in Lebanon following renewed clashes, with Israeli airstrikes concentrated on border towns in the south causing deaths and injuries. The southern suburb of Beirut has seen a relative calm amid Israeli evacuation warnings, while clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah continue along the border.
Israeli aircraft dropped leaflets over Beirut, causing alarm among residents living amid the ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel. Journalists and France Press agency staff in Beirut reported hearing loud explosions repeated four times in quick succession, followed by observations of aircraft in the capital's airspace.
Lebanon-based Hezbollah announced it carried out five operations targeting Israeli military positions and forces in southern Lebanon beginning on Monday. The group stated the attacks were defensive measures and specified that rocket strikes targeted Israeli troop concentrations at locations including Kafariyufal and Honin in northern occupied territory.
UNIFIL announced that three of its positions in southern Lebanon came under fire in separate incidents on Sunday. The organization indicated the attacks were likely carried out by armed groups not affiliated with the state.
The Israeli military said Sunday that it killed a leader of Hamas in a cave strike on the Sharhabil area near Sidon in southern Lebanon. The military also said that the brother of the executor of an attack on a synagogue in Michigan was killed in an Israeli cave in Lebanon this month, and that this person was a leader in Hezbollah.
According to Al-Akhbar, the health ministry has alleged that ambulances are being used for military purposes, which it characterizes as justification for alleged crimes.
Israeli soldiers fired on a family car in the occupied West Bank, killing four members of one family including two young children. The Palestinian health ministry confirmed the deaths occurred in the northern West Bank.
Israeli settler violence has increased in the West Bank during the context of broader regional hostilities. The surge represents a concerning trend of violence by settlers in the occupied territory.
Israeli occupation authorities announced they intend to reopen the Rafah crossing on Wednesday with limited passage for individuals, following a closure period due to conflict with Iran. The Israeli military coordination body (COGAT) confirmed the crossing would resume operations.
At least eight people were wounded in Israel following Iranian missile strikes, according to reports. Some of the missiles were reported to carry cluster warheads.
Discussion has resumed regarding the deployment of international stabilization forces in Gaza as fighting continues in Iran. This comes amid obstacles facing a ceasefire agreement in Gaza that has faced implementation challenges since its launch in October.
A medical source reported that eight members of Palestinian police forces were killed in an Israeli strike in Gaza.
Israeli airstrikes killed five Palestinians, including three members of one family, in central and southern Gaza. An Israeli government interior ministry statement reported eight police officers and elements killed in a strike on a police vehicle in central Gaza, including a district intervention police commander. Israeli special forces targeted a Palestinian family vehicle returning from a picnic in the West Bank, killing a couple aged 37 and 33.
According to reporting, the occupation is threatening all crossing points that traverse the southern coast.
Iraq's Justice Ministry warned of potential escape of detained ISIS members from a central prison near Baghdad following an attack on a nearby military base. The ministry expressed concern that the security incident could enable detainees held at the facility to flee.
According to Al-Akhbar, an Iranian source has made statements regarding the targeting of a hospital referred to as "Lanaz" in Erbil. The report does not provide additional details about the circumstances, impact, or other specifics of the incident.
Multiple drone and missile attacks targeted the Kurdistan Region, resulting in four people injured according to sources. Details about the perpetrators, specific locations, and extent of damage were not provided in the available information.
Patients in Sanaa face deteriorating health services due to shortages of medicines, equipment, and medical personnel. The International Organization for Migration warns that 453 health facilities across Yemen risk closure due to insufficient funding.
The World Health Organization announced the allocation of millions of dollars from its emergency fund to support health response efforts in Lebanon, Iraq, and Syria amid ongoing crises in these countries.