Deadly Israeli Strikes in Southern Lebanon Kill 16

At least 16 people have been killed and 58 others injured in Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon, according to Lebanese health authorities. Israel has issued mass evacuation orders across the region as it intensifies its military operations, reported Al Jazeera.

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said on Thursday that six members of the same family were among the dead. They were killed in a pre-dawn Israeli drone strike while traveling along the Adloun highway between Sidon and Tyre to reach safer areas.

Israeli forces have carried out heavy bombardment across residential areas, roads, and civilian infrastructure in southern Lebanon. One apartment building in southern Beirut was also struck in an attack, the first on the capital in three weeks.

Israeli media reports said the strike was an assassination attempt, but the Israeli military has not issued any official comment.

Southern Beirut is considered a stronghold of Hezbollah. Several reports said the United States is pressuring Israel not to carry out strikes in the capital, fearing such actions could undermine ongoing peace talks between Tel Aviv and the Lebanese government.

Meanwhile, the Lebanese army said one of its soldiers was killed in an Israeli strike in the Nabatieh area. In recent days, several Lebanese soldiers have also been killed in separate attacks in southern Lebanon and the western Bekaa Valley.