Israeli airstrike kills 7 in southern Lebanon, deadliest since June truce

An Israeli airstrike on a residential building in southern Lebanon has resulted in the deaths of seven people, marking the most significant loss of life since a ceasefire agreement was reached in June. Three others were injured in the attack.

The Lebanese National News Agency (NNA) reported that Israeli warplanes struck a house in the town of Ansariyeh in the early hours of Friday. The strike hit a specific residence, causing the casualties. The NNA identified the target as a house outside the town of Ansariyeh, though other reports suggest it was in the town of Nabatieh and the buffer zone along the Israeli border.

Israel has continued intermittent attacks on what it designates as strongholds of the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group in southern Lebanon, even after the ceasefire. The two sides had agreed to a truce on April 17 and again on June 20. The June agreement included plans for Hezbollah to disarm and for Israeli forces to withdraw from southern Lebanon.

However, Hezbollah has resisted disarmament, arguing that Lebanon's government is making concessions without guarantees of an Israeli withdrawal. The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah began on March 2, following Hezbollah's attacks on Israel in support of Iran. The latest deadly strike underscores the fragile nature of the ceasefire and the ongoing tensions along the border.