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 weeks, raising concerns of a potential new Israeli military offensive in Lebanon despite a ceasefire agreement in June aimed at halting hostilities between the Israeli military and Hezbollah.
According to a witness who claimed to be related to some of the deceased, the airstrikes targeted a residential building while children were preparing for school. The Israeli military stated that the strikes were conducted against individuals observed transferring weapons in the vicinity of the town Kfar Rumman. Reports from the scene revealed schoolbooks belonging to children scattered amidst the rubble of the destroyed building.
Rescue efforts were underway to retrieve bodies trapped under the debris, with one young boy, Mustafa Farhat, losing his mother and grandparents in the attack. While Mustafa was receiving medical treatment in the hospital, search operations continued for his father’s body. A relative of the boy, Mona Farhat, expressed frustration at the targeting of their home during a critical time.
The Health Ministry confirmed 11 fatalities, including two children and four women, in the residential building strike. Additionally, a separate Israeli drone strike on a civilian vehicle in the town resulted in the death of a medic, with two other medics sustaining injuries.
The airstrikes occurred without prior online evacuation warnings from the Israeli military. Israeli authorities stated that precautions were taken to minimize harm to civilians through the use of precise munitions and aerial surveillance. They acknowledged reports of civilian casualties and pledged to review the circumstances surrounding the strikes.
In a separate incident, Hezbollah allegedly launched two explosive drones towards Israeli troops near the Ali al-Taher ridge in southeastern Lebanon. Israel previously claimed to have removed Hezbollah fighters from the area, leading to heightened tensions and increased Israeli airstrikes on neighboring towns. Lebanese security officials anticipated further escalations in the region in the coming weeks.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in over 4,300 fatalities in Lebanon since Hezbollah’s rocket attacks on Israel in response to U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. Despite a ceasefire that initially reduced violence, Israeli forces have continued to conduct operations in southern Lebanon, targeting villages both within and outside the self-declared security zone.