Deadly Israeli Airstrikes Hit Southern Lebanon
Lebanon reported on Tuesday that Israeli airstrikes in the south killed at least 31 people, including four children and three women, with 40 others wounded. The attacks came despite a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah that took effect on April 17. The health ministry stated that 14 of the fatalities occurred in Burj Al-Shamali, near the port city of Tyre.
Strikes on Nabatieh and Eastern Lebanon
Israeli warplanes targeted the southern city of Nabatieh after issuing evacuation warnings. An AFP correspondent observed plumes of smoke rising from multiple locations. One strike hit near a public hospital, causing significant damage to its departments. In eastern Lebanon, an airstrike on the town of Mashghara in West Bekaa killed 11 people, including two girls and a woman, and wounded 15 others, according to the health ministry.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed on Tuesday that his country is intensifying operations in Lebanon, stating that the military is securing strategically dominant positions and reinforcing a security buffer zone to protect northern Israeli communities.
Hezbollah Responds with Drone and Rocket Attacks
Hezbollah claimed responsibility for drone and rocket attacks on Israeli forces in southern Lebanon and northern Israel. The group said its fighters repelled an Israeli advance toward Zawtar Al-Sharqiyah after airstrikes and heavy artillery fire. The Israeli military reported intercepting several explosive drones launched by Hezbollah toward Israeli territory.
Evacuation Warnings and Rising Casualties
The Israeli military issued evacuation warnings for at least 50 towns and villages in southern and eastern Lebanon, including Nabatieh city. An Israeli military official confirmed that troops have begun operating beyond the so-called Yellow Line, which runs about 10 kilometers inside Lebanese territory. Since the war began on March 2, Lebanese authorities report over 3,100 people killed by Israeli strikes.
UN peacekeepers in Lebanon detected 91 airspace violations on Monday, the highest since the ceasefire, along with 399 firing incidents attributed to the Israeli army and 11 projectile trajectories from Hezbollah. The Litani River Authority warned that strikes near the Qaraoun Dam could lead to catastrophic risks for downstream areas.
