Lebanon strike kills 7, worst since June truce; Israel cites Hezbollah action

An Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon on Saturday killed seven people, including three children and two women, in the deadliest attack since a June lull in hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.

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escalated its attacks on the south

The Israeli army said the airstrike and other heavy attacks in the Nabatieh region responded to Hezbollah action against Israeli troops in the Ali al-Taher ridge area. Lebanese state media reported that Israeli warplanes struck a home on the outskirts of Ansar village, killing seven and wounding three.

Media reports indicated Israeli soldiers were evacuated by helicopter. The National News Agency (NNA) said Israel "escalated its attacks on the south" early Saturday, reporting that "a strike launched by enemy warplanes on a home" killed seven and wounded three. It also said "Israeli warplanes carried out a series of airstrikes targeting the Ali al-Taher ridge," a strategic hill overlooking Nabatieh, and reported Israeli shelling there.

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a strike launched by enemy warplanes on a home

Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the Middle East war in March with rocket fire at Israel in support of Iran. Israel responded with heavy airstrikes and a ground invasion that Lebanese authorities say have killed more than 4,300 people. Violence had significantly decreased since a U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding in June, followed by a U.S.-sponsored framework deal between Lebanon and Israel later that month. However, Lebanon still reports intermittent Israeli strikes, occasionally causing casualties and demolitions of civilian buildings.

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a series of airstrikes targeting the Ali al-Taher ridge

Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem accused Lebanese authorities on Friday of subjecting the country's armed forces to undue pressure by implementing the deal. "How can you accept this ongoing humiliation of the Lebanese Army, exposing it to bombardment and Israeli pressures, instead of acting as its protectors?" Qassem said. Earlier this week, Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz visited southern Lebanon, vowing to keep troops in a "security zone" and stating the Israeli military was "destroying the underground infrastructure" and "all the houses" in the area.

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How can you accept this ongoing humiliation of the Lebanese Army, exposing it to bombardment and Israeli pressures, instead of acting as its protectors?