Israeli Airstrikes Kill 18 in Southern Lebanon

Israeli forces carried out a series of continuous airstrikes early Friday on residential areas in southern Lebanon, killing at least 18 people and injuring 33 others, according to Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health Emergency Operations Center.

In a statement, the ministry said ongoing Israeli air raids are severely hampering rescue operations, preventing the evacuation of casualties from several damaged areas. It added that the casualty figures remain preliminary.

Earlier, Lebanon’s state news agency NNA reported that 16 people had been killed in multiple airstrikes targeting residential neighborhoods in the Nabatieh district in southern Lebanon. The strikes reportedly hit the towns of Harouf, Sharqiyah, and Kfar Sir, while additional attacks were carried out in Kfar Tebnit, Kfar Remen, and surrounding areas, leaving several people dead, injured, and missing.

Khadija Amara remains in her home despite intense strikes. Sitting amid rubble in Qlayleh in southern Lebanon’s Tyre district, she fills water jerrycans.

The heaviest bombardment in recent days took place overnight in and around Nabatieh, as Israeli forces intensified attacks across the region. Around 1:30 am local time, heavy artillery shelling began on Nabatieh city and nearby towns including Kfar Remen, Jabdein, Nabatieh al-Fawqa, Habboush, Sajd, and Jabal al-Rihan.

At approximately 2:10 am, Israeli warplanes launched multiple waves of strikes targeting Nabatieh city, Kfar Tebnit, Nabatieh al-Fawqa, and the Rihan mountain range.

Around 3:00 am, Israeli aircraft carried out two separate rounds of attacks on the Kfar Remen–Nabatieh area, the university district of Nabatieh, and the Baydar neighborhood in Harouf. Initial reports said eight people were killed in these strikes. In another attack, a residential house between Sharqiyah and Doueir was completely destroyed, killing four people. At the same time, Israeli artillery shelled the Rhabitat neighborhood of Nabatieh city.

Three people were killed in an airstrike on Kfar Sir. Later, around 4:00 am, another strike hit the town of Qsaibeh, alongside artillery fire on its outskirts and nearby Kfar Sir. Additional airstrikes were later reported in Kfar Djal and Kfar Tebnit.

Around 5:00 am, an Israeli drone strike targeted a motorcycle near the Doueir municipal building, killing one person and injuring another. Artillery shelling and multiple drone attacks were also reported in Jebshit.

At 5:15 am, Israeli warplanes struck the town of Adshit, followed by additional attacks on the Kfar Remen-Nabatieh area and Toul, while shelling continued in Jebshit.

The latest escalation comes amid heightened regional tensions following a recently finalized Iran-US agreement.