Israel Launches Massive Assault on Southern Lebanon, Killing 10
Israeli raids and artillery attacks killed 10 Lebanese civilians as clashes and bombardments intensified across southern Lebanon.
Key Developments
- Israeli drone strikes and artillery shelling targeted multiple towns in southern Lebanon.
- Lebanon’s Health Ministry said Israeli attacks killed 10 people on Friday.
- The Israeli army ordered evacuations across several southern Lebanese villages.
- Clashes reportedly erupted between Hezbollah fighters and Israeli occupation forces in al-Bayada.
Israeli Bombing Intensifies
The Israeli occupation army carried out extensive drone strikes, artillery shelling, and demolition operations across southern Lebanon on Saturday, amid continued escalation despite the ceasefire agreement reached in April.
Israeli drone strikes targeted the towns of Haris and Nabatieh al-Fawqa, while artillery shelling struck the outskirts of Kfar Tebnit, Harouf, and Nabatieh al-Fawqa, Al-Jazeera reported.
Additionally, three Israeli drone strikes specifically targeted Nabatieh al-Fawqa during the day.
The Israeli army also issued evacuation warnings for residents of several villages and towns in southern Lebanon.
In a statement published by Israeli army spokesperson Avichai Adraee, residents of nine villages and towns were instructed to move at least 1,000 meters away toward open areas.
Israel claimed the attacks came in response to what it described as Hezbollah violations of the ceasefire agreement.
Clashes in al-Bayada
Earlier Saturday, Israeli occupation forces carried out artillery shelling and house demolitions across multiple southern Lebanese towns, coinciding with clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters in the town of al-Bayada.
Lebanon’s National News Agency reported that Israeli shelling targeted Barashit, Safad al-Batikh, Toulene, Ghandouriyeh, and Froun.
Additional shelling and machine-gun fire reportedly struck Majdal Zoun, Mansouri, Beit al-Sayyad, and al-Bayada.
Israeli occupation forces also fired illumination flares over villages in the western and central sectors of southern Lebanon.
In the Bint Jbeil district, Israeli troops reportedly demolished homes in the al-Jabbaneh neighborhood, while artillery shelling targeted the outskirts of al-Ghandouriyeh at dawn.
Ten Killed in Israeli Attacks
Meanwhile, the Lebanese news network Al Mayadeen reported that Lebanon’s Ministry of Health announced the killing of 10 Lebanese civilians during Israeli attacks on Friday.
Among the dead were three people killed in an Israeli strike on Zrarieh in the Sidon district, including two children.
The ministry also said Israeli attacks on Anqoun killed two people and wounded another civilian.
In Nabatieh district, one person was killed and four others, including a woman, were wounded in an Israeli strike targeting Mefdoun.
More than 35 Towns Targeted
According to Al Mayadeen, Israeli warplanes targeted more than 35 towns and villages across southern Lebanon, focusing heavily on Tyre and Nabatieh districts.
Airstrikes also targeted Khraibeh and the outskirts of Brital in the Bekaa Valley.
Artillery shelling additionally targeted towns in Tyre, Nabatieh, and Bint Jbeil districts.
Despite the ceasefire agreement that took effect on April 17 following indirect understandings linked to the broader Iran-US truce, Israeli attacks on Lebanon have continued almost daily.
(PC, Al-Jazeera, Al Mayadeen)