Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon kill 11 people, Health Ministry says

August 16, 2026 - 01:21

The strikes hit several villages near the border, including a residential building in the town of Nabatieh. Health officials said the dead included women and children, and at least 15 others were wounded. Rescue teams were still digging through rubble late in the day, so the toll could rise.

The Israeli military said it targeted Hezbollah positions that were preparing to launch rockets into northern Israel. It accused the group of violating the truce by storing weapons and moving fighters near the frontier. Hezbollah did not confirm any rocket fire from those areas, but its Al-Manar TV reported heavy shelling and drone strikes across the south.

The June ceasefire, brokered by the United States and France, had largely held for weeks. Both sides traded occasional accusations of violations, but Wednesday's strikes were far more intense. The United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon called for restraint and warned that further escalation could undo the fragile calm.

Lebanese officials condemned the attacks and said they would file a complaint with the Security Council. Prime Minister Najib Mikati described the strikes as a "dangerous breach" of the agreement. Hezbollah lawmakers also vowed a response, though they stopped short of announcing immediate retaliation.

The border area has been tense since the October 7 attacks and the subsequent war in Gaza. Hezbollah began launching rockets into Israel the day after, and Israel responded with heavy strikes. The June truce was meant to end that exchange, but many residents on both sides remain skeptical it will hold. Wednesday's deaths are a sharp reminder that the quiet was never guaranteed.