Israeli Airstrike in Lebanon Claims 10 Lives, Health Ministry Reports
A recent Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon has resulted in the deaths of 10 individuals, according to Lebanese authorities. The attack, which targeted a building in Nabatieh, claimed the lives of several Syrian refugees residing there, as confirmed by Lebanon’s Health Minister, Firass Abiad. While Israel asserts that the strike was aimed at a Hezbollah weapons facility, the building’s owner denied these claims, insisting the site was purely civilian.
In retaliation, Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militant group and political faction in Lebanon, launched a series of rockets, hitting a kibbutz in northern Israel and an Israeli military installation. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reported no casualties in the first attack, though two soldiers were injured in the second.
The border skirmishes between Israel and Hezbollah have intensified since the October 7 assault by Palestinian militants on Israel, which led to an Israeli military incursion into Gaza targeting Hamas. The recent escalation follows the killing of senior Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr by Israeli forces in southern Beirut. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has pledged a response to Shukr’s assassination, further heightening tensions.
Amidst these developments, international mediators are pushing for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, fearing that the conflict in Gaza could expand into a broader regional war. Despite these efforts, Iran has dismissed Western calls to avoid retaliatory actions for the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last month. However, there are signs that Iran might be holding off on its response in light of the ongoing ceasefire negotiations.
Health Minister Abiad criticized Israel’s recent actions, stating they indicate a lack of interest in any ceasefire agreement. He also revealed that a woman and her two children were among those killed in Nabatieh, with five others critically injured.
Hossain Tohmaz, the owner of the struck building, strongly refuted Israel’s claim that it was a weapons depot, describing it as a “100% civilian facility” where people both worked and lived. “This is a hangar for manufacturing iron, and that is a warehouse where we store trucks for loading goods like solar panels. The workers live and sleep on the upper floor,” Tohmaz explained.
Following the airstrike, Hezbollah announced it had launched Katyusha rockets at Ayelet HaShahar, a kibbutz near the Sea of Galilee. The IDF reported detecting 55 rocket launches from Lebanon, with some landing in open areas. The resulting fires were being extinguished by Israel Fire and Rescue Services.
Later, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for attacking an Israeli military post in Marj. The IDF confirmed that a projectile from Lebanon had severely injured one soldier and lightly injured another at Misgav Am, a location near the Israel-Lebanon border. The injured soldiers were transported to a hospital for treatment, with their families being notified.
