UNICEF head 'horrified' by killing of children in recent attacks in Lebanon

By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA) - UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) Executive Director Catherine Russell expressed concern over the killing of children in recent attacks in Lebanon.

"Horrified by reports of at least 5 children killed and several injured in attacks this week in #Lebanon," Catherine Russell said on X.

She said at least 25 children have reportedly been killed and over 200 others injured in the past 11 months.

"The escalation puts more children at risk of death, injury, and fear. The rise in hostilities threatens children in Lebanon and beyond. It must stop, now," Russell added.

The death toll from an Israeli airstrike Friday on Beirut's Southern Suburb region climbed to 37, according to the Lebanese health ministry.

The strike came after handheld devices and pagers used by Lebanese group Hezbollah detonated Tuesday and Wednesday in Lebanon, killing at least 37 victims, including children. More than 3,000 were injured.

Israel and Hezbollah have been engaged in cross-border warfare since the start of Israel’s deadly war on the Gaza Strip, which has killed over 41,300 people, mostly women and children, following a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7 last year.