Lebanon says 4 dead in strikes that Israel calls response to Hezbollah drones

Lebanon reported four fatalities on Sunday in strikes that Israel claimed were in retaliation for Hezbollah launching drones at its soldiers in southern Lebanon. The strikes occurred in Nabatieh al Fawqa and Arab Salim, with two people killed in the former and two women killed in the latter. Twenty other individuals, including several women and three children, were wounded across these regions as well as in Nabatieh and Kfar Rumman.

Lebanon's health ministry confirmed the preliminary death toll. Israel's military attributed the attacks to Hezbollah's unauthorized drone launches towards Israeli forces operating in the country's security zone. Prior to announcing this, Israel had warned residents near a building suspected to be a Hezbollah facility in Arab Salim to evacuate due to an impending Israeli strike.

This warning prompted Israel to conduct an airstrike on another house, resulting in the deaths of the two women. The Israeli military also conducted a strike on a house that was targeted in the evacuation warning. A strike in Nabatieh al-Fawqa destroyed part of the Ghandour hospital, which had been closed for years. Additionally, a heavy airstrike in Nabatieh city targeted a historic building and damaged state finance and agriculture authorities' offices.

Shops, cafes, and a motorcycle were also affected in the vicinity. Lebanon has been involved in the Middle East conflict since March, following Hezbollah's attack on Israel to support Iran. Israel responded with airstrikes and a ground invasion, claiming over 4,300 casualties. Israeli forces continue to operate within a self-declared security zone stretching ten kilometers deep into Lebanon along the border.

Although tensions have eased since a US-Iran memorandum of understanding in June, and Israel and Lebanon signed a framework agreement, Lebanon continues to report Israeli strikes, artillery shelling, and the demolition of civilian buildings in southern areas. Israeli strikes on Friday in southern and eastern Lebanon, killing four people including an 18-year-old woman, were in response to a Hezbollah drone launch.

Earlier this week, Israel asserted operational control over the strategic Ali al-Taher ridge near Nabatieh. Hezbollah has not commented on this development or confirmed Israeli control of the site. Meanwhile, the International Committee of the Red Cross assisted in transferring five detained individuals from Israel to Lebanon. Direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon commenced following recent hostilities, with additional talks anticipated this month, though a specific date has not been set.