Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon resulted in the deaths of four individuals, including two women, as reported by the Lebanese Health Ministry on Sunday. Israel launched these strikes in response to alleged drone attacks by Hezbollah within areas under Israeli occupation.
Despite a ceasefire brokered by the U.S. with Hezbollah in June, the Israeli military continues to operate in a self-declared security zone in southern Lebanon. The Health Ministry of Lebanon confirmed that two men were killed in a town bordering the Israeli-occupied zone, while the two women lost their lives in Arab Salim, located significantly north of the occupied region.
Ahead of the strike in Arab Salim, the Israeli military issued an evacuation warning for nearby areas, citing the presence of Hezbollah in a targeted building. The strike resulted in the deaths of two girls and injuries to six others. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun’s office condemned the strikes, labeling them a “dangerous escalation” that targeted civilian establishments, including a hospital and a Finance Ministry building. President Aoun held Israel responsible and urged immediate international action to halt the violations and hold the perpetrators accountable.
According to the Israeli military, the targets of the airstrikes included alleged Hezbollah weapons storage sites and a command center housed in a former hospital building. The military claimed to have used precision weapons and aerial surveillance to minimize civilian casualties. This evacuation warning marked the second since the ceasefire announcement in June.
The first online evacuation notice was issued on August 5 for residents of Mansouri near Tyre, following leaflet drops by Israel instructing villagers to evacuate before planned strikes. Israeli airstrikes on Friday in southern Lebanon resulted in four deaths and 23 injuries, with the military targeting Hezbollah weapon depots without prior warnings. Hezbollah accused Israel of escalating tensions to influence the Lebanese government’s negotiations, which the group has rejected.
Since March 2, over 4,300 individuals have lost their lives in Lebanon due to Israeli airstrikes following Hezbollah’s actions in support of Iran.