Israeli Strikes Kill 11 in Lebanon, Including 3 Children, as Strikes Escalate

Honest, paywall-free news is rare. Please support our boldly independent journalism with a donation of any size. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam issued a statement Saturday condemning Israel’s latest deadly bombings in southern Lebanon , attacks that killed nearly a dozen people, including several children . Salam rejected the Israeli government’s insistence that it was targeting a Hezbollah “military compound,” saying, “The seven martyrs of the Israeli airstrike on the town of Ansar are not ‘military infrastructure ,’ nor are the children and women killed in it military targets.” “The responsibility for dealing with any military structures, if they exist on Lebanese territory, lies exclusively with the Lebanese state, through the Lebanese army and its legitimate institutions, and their existence does not grant Israel the right to violate Lebanese territory or endanger civilians,” said Salam, who warned that the new strikes threaten to derail tenuous steps toward a diplomatic resolution. “Israel must halt this escalation,” Salam said. “For the security of our people and their right to life on their land are not subject to negotiation or bargaining.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz have said their country’s military won’t end its illegal occupation of and attacks on southern Lebanon until Hezbollah disarms. Related Story News | War & Peace Netanyahu and Katz Threaten Iran; Vow to Remain in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza Netanyahu boasted about the “success” of Israel and the US’s war on Iran, but Israelis largely believe Iran won the war. By Shireen Akram-Boshar , T ruthout June 26, 2026 Truthout “We will cleanse this area and ensure the security of the northern residents [of Israel],” Katz said earlier this week, referring to southern Lebanon. On Friday, Michel Issa, the U.S. ambassador to Lebanon, echoed the Israeli government’s message. “Tell Hezbollah that as soon as it hands over its weapons, everything will stop,” said Issa. The Associated Press reported on Saturday that Israel struck “a home on the edge of the village of Ansar” and bombed the village of Deir al-Zahrani, killing 11 people total. Three children were killed by the Israeli airstrikes and two were wounded. Hezbollah called the Israeli strikes “a fully fledged crime” and said that “the responsibility for this persistent aggression and violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty lies with the enemy government and the United States , which provides it with support and cover.” “The Americans are partners with the Israeli enemy in its crimes and massacres against Lebanon,” the group added. In late June, the Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives voted down a war powers resolution that would have halted American military participation in Israel’s assault on Lebanon. More than 20 Democrats joined Republicans in voting against the measure. An important fundraising appeal: 5 Days to raise $35,000 Truthout is one of only a few platforms for justice-oriented, grassroots journalism. Today, as political censorship from the right intensifies, we have no choice but to ask for your help. We are fundraising right now to cover our basic operating expenses. If you can support Truthout with a one-time or monthly donation, you will make a significant impact on our work. Anything you can do makes a difference — we appreciate your support. Share Share via Facebook Facebook Circle Icon Share via Bluesky Bluesky Circle Icon Share via Flipboard Flipboard Circle Icon Share via Mail Mail Circle Icon Share via Print More Share via Threads Share via Reddit Reddit Cirlce Icon Share via Pocket Pocket Circle Icon Share via Linkedin LinkedIn Circle Icon Share via Twitter Twitter Circle Icon This piece was reprinted by Truthout with permission or license. It may not be reproduced in any form without permission or license from the source. Jake Johnson Jake Johnson is a staff writer for Common Dreams . Follow him on Twitter: @johnsonjakep . Truthout