15-2-2024 (BEIRUT) Israeli airstrikes on villages in southern Lebanon killed 11 civilians on Monday, including 6 children, hospital and security sources reported. The strikes come amid ongoing clashes along the Israel-Lebanon border sparked by Hezbollah rocket attacks in October backing Palestinian group Hamas.
A strike on the village of al-Sawana killed a woman and her two children. Another on Nabatieh left 4 children, 3 women and a man dead. Seven others were wounded, said the town’s hospital director.
Four Hezbollah fighters also died in separate strikes per the group and officials. Hezbollah’s leader vowed retaliation for attacks on Lebanese, though it did not claim operations on Monday when an Israeli soldier died in rocket barrages.
An Israeli spokesperson said the military responded forcefully to cross-border fire that wounded eight other soldiers. She said allowing the displaced to return home safely is untenable amidst threats.
Israel’s military chief met mayors of northern towns and said achievements against Hezbollah mean this is no time to relent. Hezbollah previously said exchanges would only cease with a full Gaza ceasefire.
Over 200 Lebanese have died, including 170 Hezbollah militants, alongside around 17 Israeli military and civilians. Tens of thousands on both sides are also displaced, further destabilizing the volatile region.
