September 7, Lebanon (RASS/AFP) — According to Lebanon’s official media, 11 people, including two infants, were killed overnight in an Israeli airstrike on a village in southern Lebanon. Earlier separate attacks reportedly claimed seven more lives. The escalation in southern Nabatiyeh follows Israel’s announcement on Thursday that it had captured the strategic ‘Ali al-Taher’ hill area controlled by Hezbollah. Hezbollah, backed by Iran, has not commented on this claim.
Conflict between Hezbollah and Israel reignited in March after Hezbollah launched attacks, intensifying the fighting in Lebanon. This was followed by an understanding between Washington and Tehran and a framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon by the end of that month, which had helped to reduce hostilities somewhat. However, on Monday, Israel’s Foreign Ministry accused Hezbollah of repeatedly conducting drone attacks and attempting to rebuild its military capabilities in southern Lebanon, stating that Hezbollah violated the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon.
According to Lebanon’s official National News Agency (NNA), an Israeli overnight airstrike in Far Rumman near Nabatiyeh destroyed a three-story residential building, killing nine people. The NNA also reported that two rescuers inside a targeted vehicle died in the attack. An AFP photographer described the building as completely destroyed, with schoolbooks and furniture scattered among the debris. Rescue teams continued to clear rubble on Monday morning, searching for additional victims.
Residents of Far Rumman, displaced by earlier conflict, had returned after the March ceasefire. “Since we returned here, we have been living in an atmosphere of fear,” local resident Fouad Chakaroun told AFP. He said the building targeted in the attack housed “peaceful civilians with no affiliation to any party.” Neighbors reportedly fled their homes following the strikes. The AFP photographer also noted damage to surrounding buildings caused by the explosions. Israel reportedly did not issue any warnings before the strike on Far Rumman, although residents were ordered to evacuate to safer locations prior to another attack in nearby Deir Jaharani.
The Israeli military stated that a drone carrying explosives was used in an attack targeting its soldiers. It added that “Hezbollah’s terrorist activities have forced the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to take decisive action against them.” The military has not disclosed whether any Israeli soldiers were injured. In a message issued in Arabic, the IDF warned that targeting Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure posed risks to civilians in the area. The NNA reported that 22 minutes after a warning was issued, an Israeli strike demolished a building in Deir Jaharani. On Sunday, Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun called on the United States and the international community to assist in halting Israeli attacks. According to Beirut, over 4,300 people have died in Israeli air and ground strikes in Lebanon since March. The Israeli military continues operations in its self-declared security zone extending approximately 10 kilometers (6 miles) inside Lebanese territory along the border.
