At least 18 people were killed and several others injured in a series of Israeli attacks across southern Lebanon on Wednesday, according to Lebanese health authorities, civil defense teams and the National News Agency.
The deadliest strike hit the town of Tayr Debba in the Tyre district, where nine people lost their lives and seven others were wounded, according to preliminary casualty figures released by local officials.
The violence came amid continued exchanges of fire along the Israel-Lebanon border. Hezbollah announced that its fighters had targeted Israeli troop concentrations and military vehicles in the southern Lebanese areas of Qantara and Bayada.
The Israeli military said it had carried out operations against what it described as Hezbollah infrastructure and militant positions in Tyre and other locations across southern Lebanon during the previous 24 hours. Israel also reported that Hezbollah launched a drone toward Israeli soldiers operating near the border, claiming the aircraft was intercepted before reaching its target.
Amid the escalating hostilities, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun reiterated his commitment to pursuing diplomatic efforts aimed at restoring stability and sovereignty. In a statement released by the presidency, Aoun said negotiations remain the best path forward and stressed that military confrontations only result in losses for all sides involved.
The Lebanese leader called for an end to Israeli attacks, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory, and non-interference in Lebanon’s internal affairs. He emphasized that dialogue remains essential to preventing further escalation.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the Lebanese public in a video message, urging them to stand against Hezbollah. Netanyahu claimed that Israeli forces had eliminated nearly 10,000 Hezbollah fighters and vowed to continue targeting the group wherever its members are located.
The latest developments follow a brief escalation involving Israel and Iran that was triggered by Israeli airstrikes on Beirut earlier this week. Although a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon was reached in mid-April, near-daily cross-border attacks have continued.
According to Lebanon’s Public Health Emergency Operations Center, Israeli military operations since March 2 have killed 3,696 people and injured 11,413 others across the country, highlighting the heavy humanitarian toll of the ongoing conflict.