Arabic version: لبنان يسجل 18 وفاة نتيجة الضربات الإسرائيلية، مقتل أربعة جنود
According to BBC News,
At least 18 people have been killed in southern Lebanon following a series of Israeli air strikes, the country’s health ministry has said – while the Israeli military says four of its soldiers were also killed.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it had struck 80 targets linked to the Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah and killed “dozens” of its members. This escalation comes just a day after the US and Iran signed a deal aimed at ending hostilities in the region, including a permanent cessation of hostilities in Lebanon. Despite this agreement, both Israel and Hezbollah have continued their attacks, raising concerns about the future of the truce.
Lebanon’s state news agency described the overnight bombardment across the Nabatieh district as one of the most intense of the war, with at least 33 injured and several buildings hit. In retaliation, Hezbollah claimed to have ambushed an Israeli group, destroying three tanks with guided missiles, and targeting troops with rocket and artillery fire.
Since the conflict began, Lebanon has suffered significant casualties, with at least 3,912 people killed, among them women and children, and a further 11,699 others wounded. Approximately one million people remain displaced, while dozens of communities in the south have been completely destroyed.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces domestic pressure to continue military operations against Hezbollah. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called for a strong response, stating, “all of Lebanon must burn.” Meanwhile, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot urged Israel to respect the deal and highlighted the need for restraint.
The recent violence complicates the fragile situation in Lebanon, where the US-Iran agreement seeks to establish peace. However, US officials have indicated that while the ceasefire includes Lebanon, Israel retains the right to self-defense and does not plan to withdraw its forces from the region.
