Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon led to the deaths of four individuals, including two women, as reported by the Lebanese Health Ministry on Sunday. These strikes were in response to alleged Hezbollah drone attacks within areas under Israeli military presence, despite a ceasefire brokered by the United States in June. The Israeli military was operating within a self-proclaimed security zone in southern Lebanon.
The Health Ministry of Lebanon confirmed that two men were killed in a town near the Israeli-occupied zone, while the two women were killed in Arab Salim, located north of the occupied area. Prior to the strike in Arab Salim, an online evacuation warning was issued by the Israeli military for the vicinity of a building reportedly used by Hezbollah, resulting in casualties and injuries, including two girls.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun’s office condemned the strikes, labeling them as a “dangerous escalation” targeting civilian infrastructure, including a hospital and a Finance Ministry building. President Aoun held Israel responsible for the escalation and urged the international community to intervene and hold the perpetrators accountable.
The Israeli military stated that their targets included Hezbollah weapons storage facilities and a command center within a building previously functioning as a hospital. They claimed to have used precision munitions and aerial surveillance to minimize civilian casualties. This evacuation warning marked the second since the ceasefire announcement in June.
In a separate incident, four people were killed and 23 others injured in Israeli strikes across southern Lebanon on Friday, without prior evacuation warnings. Hezbollah accused Israel of escalating tensions to pressure the Lebanese government, which has been in talks with Israel under U.S. mediation—a move rejected by the Iran-backed group.
Since March 2, over 4,300 individuals have lost their lives in Lebanon due to Israeli airstrikes following Hezbollah’s attack on Israel in support of Iran.