Israeli Airstrikes Kill Eight on Beirut-Southern Lebanon Highway, Including Two Children

Israeli airstrikes hit vehicles on the highway connecting Beirut to southern Lebanon, killing eight people including two children, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry.

“Lebanon's Ministry of Public Health announced on Wednesday the death of eight people in Israeli airstrikes that targeted three vehicles about 20 kilometers south of Beirut, while Hezbollah announced that it carried out operations targeting a number of Israeli army vehicles and soldiers”

Al-Jazeera Net

The first strike hit a vehicle on the Jiyyeh highway in Mount Lebanon about 20 kilometers south of Beirut, and a second strike targeted another car on the same road in Barja shortly afterward.

Al-Jazeera Net

Al Mayadeen’s correspondent later reported a third Israeli strike on a vehicle in the Jiyyeh-Saadiyat area in the Chouf district, and the Health Ministry said the three attacks on Barja, Jiyyeh and Saadiyat killed eight people including two children.

The attacks came on the eve of a new round of direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel scheduled to begin in Washington, with former Lebanese ambassador Simon Karam set to head the Lebanese negotiating delegation for the first time.

In a separate set of Israeli strikes, BBC reported that Lebanon said two paramedics from the Lebanese Civil Defense emergency service were killed and a third was injured in an Israeli strike on Nabatieh while they were carrying out a rescue mission.

The BBC also quoted Lebanon’s health ministry accusing Israeli forces of deliberately targeting the paramedics, saying, "This targeting constitutes further evidence of the Israeli enemy's blatant violation of international humanitarian law".

Anadolu Ajansi

Meanwhile, Palestine Chronicle reported that the Israeli military issued new evacuation threats for residents in at least six southern Lebanese towns and villages, including al-Maashouq, Yanouh, Burj al-Shamali, al-Hallousiyeh, Dbayal and al-Abbassiyeh.

The Palestine Chronicle account added that the municipality of al-Abbassiyeh urged residents to move toward a temporary displacement center within the town “to preserve public safety.”

Palestine Chronicle said Lebanese authorities announced that at least 380 people, including 22 children and 39 women, have been killed by Israeli attacks since the ceasefire came into effect on April 17, excluding casualties from the latest raids in Nabatieh.

“Lebanon says two paramedics among 13 killed in Israeli strikes Israeli air strikes have killed at least 13 people in southern Lebanon, state media say, where a ceasefire has failed to stop the war between Israel and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah”

BBC

The BBC put the broader toll at at least 2,869 people killed in Lebanon, including at least 380 since the ceasefire came into force, according to the Lebanese health ministry, and it added that Israeli authorities say 18 soldiers and four civilians have been killed over the same period.

In the same BBC report, Hezbollah said it had launched explosive-laden drones towards Israeli troops operating in southern Lebanon without causing any casualties, while the Israeli military said it was looking into reports of strikes.

The BBC also said Israeli and Lebanese officials are expected to meet again in Washington on Thursday to try to find a way to end the war, as the conflict began on 2 March and intensified despite the ceasefire.