Israeli airstrikes in a southern Lebanese town resulted in the deaths of at least 12 individuals, including two children, early on Monday, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. This marked one of the deadliest days of Israeli attacks in recent weeks. Concerns of a new Israeli military offensive are growing in Lebanon following escalating strikes despite a ceasefire in June aimed at halting hostilities between the Israeli military and Hezbollah.
A woman, who claimed to be related to three of the deceased, mentioned that one strike targeted a residential building where children were preparing for school. The Israeli military stated that the airstrike was on individuals suspected of transferring weapons in the vicinity of Kfar Rumman town.
Reporters from Reuters observed children’s schoolbooks scattered amidst debris at the site where the building once stood. Rescue teams used heavy machinery to retrieve bodies from the rubble throughout the morning.
Eight-year-old Mustafa Farhat lost his mother and grandparents in the attack, as per local sources. While the boy received medical treatment in the hospital, rescue workers continued searching for his father’s body. A relative, Mona Farhat, confirmed that their home was struck just before school hours.
The strike on the residential building claimed the lives of 11 people, including two children and four women, as reported by Lebanon’s Health Ministry. Additionally, a separate Israeli drone attack on a civilian vehicle in the town led to the death of a medic, with two others sustaining injuries.
The Israeli military did not issue an online evacuation warning prior to the town strikes. Israel’s military asserted that measures had been taken to minimize harm to civilians, including using precise munitions and aerial surveillance. They mentioned a review of reports indicating harm to uninvolved individuals due to the attacks.
Israeli forces claimed that Hezbollah had launched two explosive drones towards Israeli troops near the Ali al-Taher ridge in southeastern Lebanon. Israel recently announced clearing Hezbollah fighters from the ridge, although Hezbollah has not responded to these claims. Israeli strikes have intensified in towns to the north and west of the ridge following residents’ return post the June ceasefire, according to Lebanese security officials.
Anticipating further escalations in the south in the upcoming weeks, officials highlighted a potential surge in tensions. Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon have resulted in over 4,300 casualties since Hezbollah initiated rocket attacks on Israel in response to U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. The ceasefire initially reduced violence significantly, but Israeli forces have continued demolishing villages in the occupied areas of southern Lebanon without providing evacuation warnings.