Israeli strikes kill 11 in south Lebanon; IDF says raids in response to Hezbollah action

Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon on Saturday killed at least 11 people, including three children and two women, according to Lebanese authorities. Seven people were killed in a strike on a home in Ansar, while four others died in a separate raid in Deir al-Zahrani. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the strikes, stating they targeted Hezbollah infrastructure in response to an attack by the group against Israeli troops in the Ali Taher Ridge area.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the strikes, describing them as a clear message ahead of the next round of US-sponsored negotiations scheduled in Rome. He characterized the attacks as a violation of the framework agreement and international law. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam also condemned the escalation, stating that the victims in Ansar were not military targets and calling for an immediate halt to the violence.

These strikes occur despite a US-mediated framework agreement established in June, which aimed to facilitate an Israeli withdrawal and the disarmament of Hezbollah. Hezbollah has rejected the terms of the agreement, and hostilities have persisted. According to Reuters, at least 4,300 people have been killed in Lebanon since the current conflict began, while on the Israeli side, approximately 40 soldiers and three civilians have been killed.