Israeli Strikes Kill 39 as Lebanon Tensions Rise

At least 39 people were killed in a new wave of Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon, according to the Lebanese health ministry, as cross-border hostilities between Israeli forces and Hezbollah continued despite a ceasefire announcement.

One of the deadliest attacks struck the southern town of Saksakiyeh, where at least seven people, including a child, were killed and 15 others injured. Authorities said three children were among the wounded.

The Israeli military said the strike targeted Hezbollah operatives allegedly using a civilian structure for military activities. It acknowledged reports of civilian casualties and stated that precision-guided weapons and aerial surveillance had been used to minimise harm to non-combatants. The incident is currently under review, the military added.

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported multiple Israeli strikes across southern Lebanon on Saturday as tensions along the border continued to escalate.

In another incident, an Israeli drone strike in Nabatieh targeted a motorbike carrying a Syrian man and his 12-year-old daughter. Health officials said the father was killed in successive strikes, while the girl sustained critical injuries and underwent surgery.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah launched a drone attack into northern Israel that wounded three Israeli soldiers, one of them seriously, according to the Israeli military.

Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has persisted since a ceasefire agreement announced on April 16. Israel says its operations are targeting Hezbollah-linked military positions, while Hezbollah has continued rocket and drone attacks in response.

The Lebanese health ministry said more than 120 people have been killed in Israeli attacks over the past week, including women and children, though official figures do not distinguish between civilians and combatants.

Israeli forces continue to maintain positions in parts of southern Lebanon near the border, aiming to establish what Israeli authorities describe as a Hezbollah-free buffer zone. Rights groups and local officials have reported widespread destruction in several border villages.

Since early March, nearly 2,800 people have reportedly been killed in Lebanon amid the escalating conflict. Israeli authorities say 17 soldiers and three civilians have also been killed in violence linked to the cross-border clashes.