Israeli airstrikes in a southern Lebanese town resulted in the deaths of at least 12 individuals, including two children, early on Monday, as reported by Lebanon’s Health Ministry. This marked one of the deadliest days of Israeli bombardment in recent times. Concerns are escalating in Lebanon over a potential resurgence of Israeli military actions following days of increasing airstrikes, despite a ceasefire established in June to halt hostilities between the Israeli military and Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.
An eyewitness, claiming to be related to three of the deceased, stated that one strike targeted a residential building while children were preparing for school. The Israeli military indicated that the strike was against individuals observed transferring weapons in the vicinity of Kfar Rumman town. At the scene, children’s schoolbooks were scattered amid rubble from the demolished building. Rescue teams, aided by heavy machinery, worked tirelessly to retrieve bodies trapped under the debris.
Among the casualties was eight-year-old Mustafa Farhat, who lost his mother and grandparents in the attack, according to local sources. His father remained missing as rescue efforts continued, while the injured boy received medical care in the hospital. Mona Farhat, a relative, expressed frustration at the targeting of their home before school hours, questioning the motives behind the attack and vowing not to leave their land.
The Health Ministry of Lebanon confirmed that 11 people, including two children and four women, lost their lives in the residential building strike on Monday, which reportedly occurred after midnight. Additionally, a separate Israeli drone strike on a civilian vehicle in the same town resulted in the death of a medic, with two other medics sustaining injuries.
Notably, the airstrikes on the town occurred without prior online evacuation warnings from the Israeli military. Israel’s military claimed to have taken measures to minimize harm to non-combatants through the use of precision weaponry and aerial surveillance. An investigation was announced to assess reports of civilian casualties resulting from the strikes.
In a related incident, Hezbollah allegedly launched two explosive drones toward Israeli troops near the Ali al-Taher ridge in southeastern Lebanon. Israeli forces had previously cleared Hezbollah fighters from the area, intensifying strikes on neighboring towns following residents’ return post-ceasefire. Lebanese security officials anticipated further escalations in the southern region in the upcoming weeks.
Since Hezbollah’s rocket attacks on Israel in March, which prompted Israeli retaliatory actions, over 4,300 people have been killed in Israeli strikes on Lebanon. While the ceasefire led to a significant reduction in violence, Israeli forces have continued demolishing villages within the occupied southern Lebanon security zone, conducting strikes with limited or no evacuation warnings.
