By Jana Safieddine and Ayah Rizk, 2027
On April 8th, 2026, the Israeli military carried out the operation of “Eternal Darkness” attacking over 100 areas across Lebanon in just 10 minutes by dropping some 160 airstrikes, including on crowded residential neighbourhoods. According to the National Catholic Reporter, the operation killed at least 350 people and injured many in just one day, making this one of the deadliest attacks since the escalation of the war in March.
Over 2000 people have been murdered by Israeli airstrikes. Additionally, according to the UN News, some 1.2 million people have been displaced, making up roughly 20% of the Lebanese population. Israel has also killed at least 259 journalists and media workers since 2023 (Global perspective Human stories). This deliberate targeting of news reporters, that are not participants in hostilities, demonstrates the illegal actions taken by Israel to remove the voices of those suffering. Furthermore, it is also an attempt to silence Israel’s war crimes in Lebanon, as well as in Gaza, where journalists were persistently the target of military aggression.
Despite claims that they are targeting Hezbollah, the Israeli military has demolished entire villages in southern Lebanon, rigging homes with explosives and destroying them to the ground with huge explosions and airstrikes. Using this excuse, Israel has destroyed entire villages with residential homes, deliberately targeting innocent civilians.
Sources
- https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/04/1167268
- https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/12/how-israeli-offensive-destroyed-entire-villages-in-lebanon
- https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2026/04/lebanon-urgent-call-to-protect-civilians-as-death-toll-mounts-following-brutal-escalation-in-israeli-attacks/
- https://www.ncronline.org/news/lebanese-christians-mourn-rising-death-toll-war-shatters-communities-hope
- https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2026/04/lebanon-un-experts-call-international-independent-investigation-israels
Works Cited
“Hundreds Feared Dead in Lebanon Strikes.” UN News, 8 Apr. 2026, Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
Christou, William, and Lucy Swan. “Everything Is Gone”: Israel Destroys Entire Villages in Lebanon.” The Guardian, The Guardian, 12 Apr. 2026,
(“Lebanon: Urgent Call to Protect Civilians as Death Toll Mounts Following Brutal Escalation in Israeli Attacks”). Amnesty International, 8 April. 2026,
Gavlak, Dale. “Lebanese Christians Mourn Rising Death Toll as War Shatters Communities, Hope.” National Catholic Reporter, 2026, Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
“Lebanon: UN Experts Call for International Independent Investigation into Israel’s Killing of Journalists.” OHCHR, 2026,
