Israeli Airstrikes Kill Civilians in Southern Lebanon as Hezbollah Attacks Israeli Forces

Israeli airstrikes hit multiple villages in southern Lebanon on Thursday, with Shafaq News reporting deaths of multiple civilians while Hezbollah continued attacks on Israeli forces deployed in the region.

“The Israeli army announced on Thursday that there were injuries after a drone launched by Hezbollah fell in the Ras al-Naqoura area near the border with Lebanon, and the injured were transported to hospitals, while the Israeli army carried out several airstrikes on towns in Lebanon”

Al-Jazeera Net

Shafaq News listed towns targeted since early morning including Kfartebnit, Arnoun, Zrarieh, Aytit, Al-Sawana, Choukin, Shuhur, Zawtar Al-Sharqiya, Froun, Kfar Melki, Al-Qsaiba, Srifa, Al-Qulaila, Al-Mansouri, Siddiqin, Kfara, Taffahata, and Hadatha, and also reported additional strikes hitting Libbaya, Sohmor, Yahmar, and Ain Al-Tineh in western Beqaa.

Al-Jazeera Net

Hezbollah issued five separate statements announcing attacks on Israeli troop concentrations and military vehicles in the area of Al-Bayyada using rockets and artillery shells, and said it struck a Merkava tank in the same village with a guided missile, confirming a direct hit.

In Ras Al-Naqoura along the border, Israeli Army Radio reported that three were wounded, including two in critical condition, after a Hezbollah drone struck a site, and Shafaq News said the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, citing a source at Rambam Hospital in Haifa, reported most injuries among soldiers were concentrated in the face, neck, and hands.

As Lebanese-Israeli talks were scheduled in Washington, Naharnet reported that Israeli strikes targeted Sinay, Teffahta, Tebna, Froun, Siddiqine, Haddatha, Zrarieh, Brayke', Kfarmelki, Qsaybeh, Jarjou', Kfarseer, Kafra, Arnoun-Shqif, al-Mansouri, Srifa and other villages and towns in south Lebanon despite a ceasefire.

Naharnet also said the Israeli army ordered residents of Lebeya, Sohmor, Tefahta, Kfarmelki, Yohmor, Ein al-Tineh, Houmin al-Fawqa, and Mazraat Sinay to evacuate ahead of imminent strikes, while Hezbollah targeted Israeli bases, troops, and equipment in Blat, al-Bayyada, Kfarkela, and Deir Seryan.

Ici Beyrouth

In Ras al-Naqoura, Al Jazeera Net reported that the Israeli army announced injuries after a drone launched by Hezbollah fell in the Ras al-Naqoura area near the border with Lebanon, and said the injured were transported to hospitals.

Al Jazeera Net added that Yedioth Ahronoth, quoting a source, said the number of Israelis wounded by Hezbollah drones over the past two weeks rose to 17, and quoted a Rambam Hospital official saying that most injuries among soldiers due to drones were concentrated in the face, neck, and hands.

Shafaq News said Lebanese authorities have recorded more than 8,500 Israeliraidssince March 2, and that the Health Ministry reported 2,896 people killed and 8,824 others injured, including women and children.

“An Israeli drone flew at a low altitude over the Iklim el Kharroub region (Chouf District), our correspondent in South Lebanon reports”

L'Orient-Le Jour

Al Jazeera Net reported that despite a ceasefire in effect between Israel and Hezbollah since 17 April, and its extension after direct talks that brought Lebanon and Israel's ambassadors to Washington, the Israeli army continues its strikes on Lebanon, especially in the south, causing deaths and injuries.

Al Jazeera Net said these developments came just hours before a new round of talks between Lebanon and Israel in Washington on Thursday, while Naharnet said the strikes continued as envoys met in Washington.

In parallel, Shafaq News reported that Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said there is a “clear understanding of the threat posed by Hezbollah drones”, adding that “work is underway to develop rapid solutions to counter them.”