Southern Lebanon came under a wave of Israeli airstrikes early Saturday, hitting the city of Nabatieh and surrounding towns. According to an initial toll from Lebanon’s Health Ministry emergency operations center, the strikes killed four people and wounded 20 others. The attacks come amid continuing military escalation along the border, with damage reported to homes, buildings, and civilian and commercial facilities.
The National News Agency said Israeli warplanes began the strikes around 5 a.m., targeting several areas in and around Nabatieh. The bombardment destroyed homes and buildings and caused extensive damage to public and private property, while ambulance teams continued transporting the wounded to hospitals in the region.
Nabatieh and Surrounding Towns Hit by Airstrikes
Casualties in Several Towns
The Health Ministry’s emergency operations center, as cited by the National News Agency, said two people were killed and two wounded in Nabatieh al-Fawqa, while eight people, including a woman and a girl, were injured in the al-Rahbat district of Nabatieh city.
In the town of Arabsalim, the strikes killed two women and injured six people, including two girls. Four injuries were also reported in Kfarرمان. Local reports said the injured were treated at Nabatieh hospitals before being discharged.
Homes and Buildings Destroyed
The Israeli strikes destroyed several homes and buildings, along with widespread damage to public and commercial property. In Nabatieh al-Fawqa, an airstrike destroyed a palace belonging to a local resident in the Al Ghandour neighborhood. Another strike hit part of the Ghندour Hospital building, which has been out of service for years, with reports of injuries.
In Kfarرمان, an airstrike hit the home of the town’s former mayor near the industrial city, destroying it and causing several injuries. An Israeli drone also struck a motorcycle at the Abu Ali Houmani junction on the Nabatieh-Nabatieh al-Fawqa road near the Teachers’ House, while another drone hit the al-Deir neighborhood in Nabatieh al-Fawqa.
Ongoing Shelling and Tension in the South
Airstrikes and Intermittent Shelling
In addition to the airstrikes, Israeli warplanes carried out a series of attacks around al-Dabbsha hill on the outskirts of Nabatieh al-Fawqa, while Kfarرمان’s Duhah and the area around al-Dabbsha were hit by intermittent artillery shelling. The developments point to continuing military tension in southern Lebanon, with civilians and vital infrastructure increasingly at risk.
Growing Damage and Continued Fear
The attacks came as ambulance teams continued transferring the wounded to hospitals in the area, with early assessments pointing to substantial human and material losses. The targeting of civilian and medical sites has heightened concerns about the humanitarian situation in southern Lebanon.
Second Statement Reports 3 More Dead
Drone Strike on a Parking Area
In a separate statement, Lebanon’s Health Ministry said three people were killed in another Israeli strike in southern Lebanon. The Health Ministry’s emergency operations center said an Israeli drone targeted a parking area in Nabatieh al-Tahta, killing three people.
That brings the day’s death toll to seven, after the ministry earlier reported four dead and 20 wounded in the initial strikes on Nabatieh and nearby towns.
Lebanese President Condemns the Escalation
Israel Accused of Violating the Ceasefire Framework
President Joseph Aoun said the renewed Israeli attacks on Nabatieh and its towns in southern Lebanon constitute a dangerous escalation that goes beyond repeated violations and undermines the ceasefire agreement.
Aoun said the strikes, which caused civilian deaths and severe damage to the Finance Ministry building as well as the destruction of a hospital, reveal a continuing pattern of attacks that go beyond alleged military targets to purely civilian institutions and medical facilities. He said this shows a clear intent to disrupt the functioning of state institutions and daily life in Lebanon.
Call for Urgent International Action
The Lebanese president held Israel fully responsible for the ongoing escalation and urged the United States and the international community to act quickly to stop the violations and hold those responsible accountable. He said Lebanon remains committed to preserving its sovereignty and the safety of its citizens despite the attacks.
Lebanon’s Overall Casualty Toll Rises
Death Toll Since October 2023
Lebanon’s Health Ministry said the death toll from the Israeli campaign on Lebanon since October 8, 2023, has risen to 8,929 dead and 30,614 injured. The figure reflects the heavy human cost of the continued escalation in southern Lebanon and other areas.
Conclusion:
Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon continue to cause rising human and material losses, with an initial toll of 4 killed and 20 wounded in Nabatieh and surrounding towns, followed by three more deaths in a separate drone strike. As President Joseph Aoun denounces the escalation and says it undermines the ceasefire agreement, local and international calls are again focused on halting violations and protecting civilians in the south.
