An Israeli air strike on the Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon on Tuesday resulted in the deaths of at least 13 people, according to the Lebanese health ministry. The attack targeted an area near a mosque and a football pitch in the densely populated camp, located on the outskirts of Sidon. Local media reported dozens of injuries, with footage from the scene depicting a chaotic aftermath of civilian casualties and rescue efforts. The Israeli military claimed the strike was aimed at a Hamas “military compound” used for training, a claim vehemently denied by Hamas, which labeled it as “pure fabrication and lies.” The group emphasized that the targeted area was a public sports field frequented by camp residents. Ain al-Hilweh, home to nearly 80,000 people in a 1.5 sq km area, is Lebanon’s largest Palestinian refugee camp. The strike is part of a series of recent Israeli violations of a ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States and France in November 2024. The agreement, which aimed to de-escalate tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, included provisions for Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon and the replacement of Hezbollah fighters with the Lebanese army. However, UN experts report that Israel has conducted approximately 500 air strikes since the ceasefire, resulting in over 108 deaths. Over the past two years, Israeli attacks in Lebanon have claimed more than 4,000 lives, further exacerbating regional tensions.