Israeli airstrikes kill 11 in southern Lebanon, including children

On Saturday, Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon killed at least 11 people, including three children, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry. The deadliest strike hit a home on the outskirts of the village of Ansar, killing seven people, among them three children and two women, and wounding two others. A separate strike on Deir ez-Zahrani killed four people and wounded 17. These attacks mark the highest death toll in a single day since the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took effect on June 20, following the US-Iran memorandum of understanding and a US-sponsored framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel signed later that month.

The Israeli military said it struck Hezbollah infrastructure in the areas of Nabatieh and Ansar in response to an action against Israeli soldiers at the Ali al-Taher Ridge. However, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam rejected this account, calling the escalation "extremely dangerous" and saying it undermined efforts to consolidate stability in southern Lebanon. President Joseph Aoun condemned the attacks as repeated violations of the framework agreement and international laws protecting civilians. Hezbollah issued a statement warning that the attacks would be met with an "appropriate response" and accused the Lebanese government of accepting "humiliating" negotiations.

The framework agreement, announced on June 26, calls for Hezbollah's disarmament, the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon, and the deployment of the Lebanese army to the region. Despite the truce, Israel has continued almost daily attacks on areas north of the Litani River, which has served as a de facto boundary. The National News Agency reported that the strike on the valley between Ansar and Zarariyeh was the first at that geographical depth since the ceasefire. Israeli forces also destroyed homes in Bint Jbeil and shelled the Ali al-Taher Ridge, a strategic hill overlooking Nabatieh.

The latest Israel-Hezbollah war erupted on March 2, when Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel in support of Iran, two days after the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran. Since then, more than 4,000 people have been killed by Israeli strikes in Lebanon, including hundreds of civilians. On the Israeli side, about 40 soldiers and three civilians have been killed. The attacks on Saturday have heightened fears among residents, as many had considered the area safe. Human Rights Watch has urged the UN to keep an international peacekeeping force in Lebanon, saying it is a crucial deterrent against attacks on civilians.