Eleven killed in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon, authorities say
Israel's military said it had struck "Hezbollah terror infrastructure" in response to what it described as earlier action against its soldiers.
Eleven individuals were killed in Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon, according to authorities, marking one of the deadliest days of attacks since a ceasefire agreement was announced in June. Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam expressed condemnation, stating that the seven civilians killed were not military infrastructure and that Israel must cease this escalation.
The strikes targeted a house on the outskirts of Ansar, 70km south of Beirut, where seven people were killed, including three children and two women. The IDF reported that a Hezbollah commander, Ali Samir al-Haj Hassan, was among those killed; the IDF stated that he was a lawful target under international law, not his family members who were present and harmed.
Another strike in Deir al-Zahrani killed four and injured five others. Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun condemned the Israeli strikes, citing repeated violations of the ceasefire framework and calling for an end to Israeli attacks. Hezbollah, though not part of the agreement, has rejected direct negotiations with Israel. Despite some reduction in fighting following the June agreements, Israeli strikes and demolitions in southern Lebanon continue. Lebanon and Israel are set to meet for further negotiations in September.
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