Israeli Airstrike Claims Lives in Southern Lebanon, Say Local Authorities

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Four civilians, among them a woman and three children, were the victims of an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon, with local officials worried that this event could lead to a significant increase in hostilities on the Israel-Lebanon border.

Hostilities between Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters along with their allies have persisted near the border for weeks, ever since the Israel-Hamas conflict commenced. Although most of the confrontations have been localized, the frequency and severity have escalated, particularly as Israeli forces have stepped up their incursions in Gaza.

According to Lebanon’s official National News Agency, two family cars were traveling between Ainata and Aitaroun on Sunday evening when they were struck by Israeli forces. A direct hit on one of the vehicles caused it to ignite, resulting in the death of one woman and three minors, aged 10, 12, and 14. Additional injuries were reported.

In retaliation, Hezbollah launched Grad rockets into Israel, targeting the towns of Metula and Kiryat Shmona, as confirmed by Hezbollah officials. The subsequent damage and potential casualties in Israel were not immediately known.

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Samir Ayoub, a Lebanese journalist caught up in the incident, informed The Big Big News that his sister’s daughters and their grandmother were the casualties of the strike.

“Only my sister, her daughters, and their grandmother were in the car. There were no men present. It was a harrowing scene where three young lives were lost to the flames, and I could only save their mother amidst her cries for her children,” Ayoub expressed his anguish, condemning the attack.

The director of Salah Ghandour hospital in Bint Jbeil, Mohammad Suleiman, remarked that the remains of the deceased were entirely charred. He noted that although the children’s mother was injured, her condition was stable and she had been moved to a different facility for further treatment.

While Daniel Hagari, a representative of the Israeli military, refrained from commenting on the specifics of the event, he assured that a thorough review was underway.

In response to the deadly airstrike, Lebanon’s acting prime minister, Najib Mikati, denounced the action as an atrocity and indicated Lebanon’s intent to bring the matter before the U.N. Security Council.

On a related note, Avichay Adraee, a spokesperson for the Israeli army, acknowledged a casualty on the Israeli side from an offensive by the Lebanese faction Hezbollah, without clarifying the victim’s military or civilian status.

In another incident, Lebanese officials reported an Israeli drone’s attack near two ambulances en route to assist overnight airstrike victims in southern Lebanon, resulting in four paramedics being injured. The Israeli military stated that their operations targeted a militant group poised to launch missiles into Israel from the Ras Naqoura area and did not intentionally involve the ambulances.

Furthermore, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for an attack on an Israeli military vehicle across from Blida, which they say inflicted casualties on the Israeli crew.

The death toll on the Lebanese side due to the border skirmishes has risen to at least 14 civilians, in contrast to two Israeli civilians, along with seven Israeli soldiers and numerous Hezbollah and allied militia members in Lebanon.

Hezbollah has stated that any Israeli actions resulting in Lebanese civilian deaths would be met with retaliation against Israeli civilian areas, marking a clear breach of engagement protocols.

Reporters Abby Sewell, Kareem Chehayeb, and Bassem Mroue in Beirut, along with Julia Frankel in Jerusalem, contributed to this report.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Israeli airstrike Lebanon

More about Israeli airstrike Lebanon

• Lebanon National News Agency
• Hezbollah Official Statements
• Israel Defense Forces Spokesperson
• United Nations Security Council
• The Big Big News Coverage
• Ras Naqoura Incident Reporting
• Israeli Military Vehicle Attack by Hezbollah