Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon kill 12
Rescue workers inspect a vehicle damaged in an Israeli strike in the Jiyeh area south of Beirut, Lebanon. File photo: Reuters
At least 12 people have been killed in an Israeli strike on the town of Kafr Rumman in southern Lebanon. Two children were among those killed. Lebanon’s Health Ministry described Monday’s strike as one of the deadliest attacks in recent weeks.
A residential building collapsed in the strike. Children were preparing to go to school there. Rescue workers spent the morning recovering bodies from beneath the rubble. Children’s books and school supplies could be seen scattered at the scene.
Local residents said the mother and grandparents of 8-year-old Mustafa Farhat were among those killed. Mustafa was injured and is receiving treatment at a hospital. Rescue efforts to recover his father’s body continued on Monday.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry said 11 people were killed in the strike on the residential building. They included two children and four women. In the same town an Israeli drone strike on a civilian vehicle killed a medical worker. Two other medical workers were injured.
The Israeli military said the strike targeted people moving weapons in the area. It also claimed that precision weapons and aerial surveillance were used to minimize civilian harm. Israel said it was investigating allegations that civilians were harmed in the strike.
Israeli forces did not issue any online evacuation warning before the strike in Kafr Rumman.
Israeli strikes have continued in southern Lebanon even after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took effect in June. The attacks have increased in recent days. This has raised fears of a new large scale military operation.
The Israeli military said Hezbollah had sent two explosive drones targeting Israeli soldiers before Monday’s strikes. The drones attempted to attack near the strategic Ali Al Taher hill area in southeastern Lebanon.
Last week Israel said Hezbollah fighters had been removed from a tunnel beneath the hill. Hezbollah has not commented on the claim. The military situation in the area could not be independently verified.
On Sunday, at least 11 people were killed in Israeli strikes on three towns in southern Lebanon. Lebanon’s Health Ministry said two women killed in the strikes were from Arab Salim. The ministry also said Gandour Hospital in Nabatieh Al Fawqa was destroyed in an Israeli strike on the same day.
According to Lebanon’s Health Ministry, more than 4,300 people have been killed in Israeli strikes in the country since March. The dead include more than 250 children, around 400 women and more than 130 medical workers.
Violence had decreased significantly after the June ceasefire. However, the situation is heating up again due to the presence of Israeli forces across large areas of southern Lebanon and continued attacks. Concerns are growing over the possibility of a new major conflict.
