An Israeli airstrike has claimed the lives of at least ten people in Nabatiyeh, southern Lebanon, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health. This attack prompted Hezbollah to retaliate with a barrage of rockets aimed at Israel.
All those killed in Lebanon were identified as Syrian nationals. Among the victims were a woman and her two children, as confirmed by the ministry.
The strike also left at least five people wounded, with two of them in critical condition. The injured include three Syrians, one Sudanese, and one Lebanese national. Two of the Syrians are currently in critical condition and undergoing surgery at a nearby hospital.
The Israeli military reported that the strike targeted a Hezbollah weapons storage facility in the Nabatiyeh area.
This incident marks one of the largest death tolls in southern Lebanon since Israel initiated its war on Gaza, following the October 7th Hamas attacks that claimed the lives of around 1,200 people.
In retaliation, Iran-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon launched rockets toward Ayelet Hashahar in northern Israel. The Israeli military confirmed the rocket fire, stating that approximately 55 projectiles crossed from Lebanon, though no injuries were reported.
In a separate event, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reported that one of its soldiers was severely injured, and another lightly wounded, after a projectile from Lebanon hit Misgav Am.
On the same day, a drone strike killed a person on a motorcycle in the southern Lebanese city of Tyre, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency.
The ongoing exchange of cross-border fire between Hezbollah and Israeli forces has become almost daily since Israel began its military campaign on Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of over 40,000 Palestinians in the past ten months.
Tensions between Lebanon and Israel escalated further late last month when an Israeli strike on Beirut killed Hezbollah’s top military commander, Fu’ad Shukr. The following day, Israel was widely believed to have assassinated Hamas’ political leader in Tehran, though Israel has neither confirmed nor denied its involvement.
This has fueled speculation of imminent retaliatory attacks from Hezbollah and Iran on Israel. Sources familiar with the situation have indicated that Hezbollah might strike Israel independently of Iran’s plans, given Lebanon’s proximity to Israel, which allows for swift action.
In Gaza, an Israeli airstrike killed at least 15 members of the same family in al-Zawayda, central Gaza, including nine children. Footage from the scene shows people sifting through the rubble and recovering the body of a child.
When asked for comment, the Israeli military stated that the reports of civilian casualties were under review.
Later, the IDF announced that it had killed several militants in central Gaza, including one responsible for launching rockets toward Israeli forces.
The fighting in Gaza has left much of the territory in ruins and displaced nearly the entire population.
On Saturday, Israel issued new evacuation orders in central Gaza, the ninth such order in August alone. The United Nations has warned that these orders severely impact the local population’s access to essential services and shelter.
Meanwhile, hostage and truce negotiations have stalled but are expected to resume next week, with international mediators presenting a new proposal aimed at bridging the remaining gaps between Israel and Gaza.