Nine killed in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon

In a series of attacks that strike at the heart of a fragile ceasefire, Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon on Saturday killed nine civilians, including three children and two women, according to Lebanese authorities. The first strike hit a house on the outskirts of Ansar in the Nabatieh district around 04:30 local time. The second strike targeted the town of Deir al-Zahrani, killing two more people and injuring nine others.

Israeli forces lambasted the attacks as hits on “Hezbollah terror infrastructure” in retaliation for a previous assault on Israeli soldiers. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam rejected the justification, stating the victims were civilians not military targets and calling for an immediate halt to the escalation. “For the security of our people and their right to life on their land are not subject to negotiation or bargaining,” Salam said.

The incidents occur amid a June ceasefire framework that called for Hezbollah disarmament, a gradual Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, and the deployment of the Lebanese army throughout the area. Despite the framework, Israeli strikes and demolitions continue in places such as Bint Jbeil and along the border, bringing the frontline turf to a tense standstill. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the Iranian-backed group's “repeated violations” while the IDF maintains a presence in the 10‑km buffer zone.

The latest developments come just before a scheduled eighth negotiation round in September, though a definitive meeting date remains uncertain. Meanwhile, local residents report ongoing air‑raid sirens and large plumes of smoke tearing through villages. The conflict has its roots in a March 2 revolt by Hezbollah in response to an earlier strike that killed Iran's supreme leader.