BEIRUT: Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon on Saturday left at least nine people dead in the country’s south, according to Lebanese authorities, in one of the most intense escalations since a ceasefire came into effect three weeks ago between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah.
The strikes also reportedly extended beyond Hezbollah’s traditional strongholds, with one of the raids hitting a highway located not far from Beirut, raising concerns over the widening geographical scope of the attacks.
Despite the ceasefire agreement, which was intended to reduce hostilities, both sides have continued low-level but persistent exchanges of fire, particularly along the southern border areas of Lebanon.
In response to the latest Israeli strikes, Hezbollah said it had launched drone attacks targeting Israeli troops in northern Israel on at least two separate occasions, according to media reports.
The group described the actions as retaliation for ongoing Israeli military operations inside Lebanese territory.
The Israeli military confirmed that “several” explosive drones had entered Israeli airspace. It added that one army reservist sustained severe injuries, while two other personnel were moderately wounded in one of the incidents linked to the drone incursions.
Meanwhile, Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported multiple Israeli strikes across southern regions of the country, including an attack on the town of Saksakiyeh.
The Lebanese health ministry stated that one of the raids in the south had resulted in an initial toll of seven fatalities, including a young girl, while 15 others were injured, among them three children. Authorities warned that casualty figures could still change as rescue operations continued.
The latest violence underscores the fragile nature of the ceasefire, with both sides continuing to accuse each other of violations while the risk of wider escalation remains high.
