Lebanon Urges World Action After Israeli Strikes Kill Seven

Southern Lebanon:  (News Desk) –  Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has called on the United States and the international community to intervene urgently after Israeli strikes across southern Lebanon killed at least seven people, despite an existing truce and a framework agreement intended to prevent further escalation.

Aoun condemned the attacks as a dangerous escalation, particularly because some strikes damaged Lebanese government facilities and destroyed an out-of-service hospital. He urged Washington and the international community to take immediate steps to halt what he described as repeated Israeli violations.

Israel said its forces carried out the strikes against Hezbollah operatives and infrastructure after an alleged drone attack by the Iran-backed group targeted Israeli troops near a strategic ridge in southern Lebanon a day earlier. The Israeli military said the drone attack caused no casualties but described it as a serious violation.

Earlier this week, Israel announced that it had taken control of the Ali al-Taher ridge in the Nabatieh area, which it considers part of a self-declared security zone extending into southern Lebanon. Hezbollah has not publicly commented on the Israeli claim and has not acknowledged responsibility for attacks in recent weeks.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry said two people were killed in strikes on Nabatieh al-Fawqa, while two women were killed in nearby Arab Salim. At least 20 others, including women and three children, were wounded in the attacks in Nabatieh al-Fawqa, Nabatieh city and Kfar Rumman.

The ministry later confirmed that another Israeli strike on a parking area near Nabatieh killed three additional people, bringing the reported death toll to at least seven.

Hospital Destroyed

The Health Ministry said an Israeli strike completely destroyed the Ghandour Hospital in Nabatieh al-Fawqa, although the facility was no longer operational. Lebanese authorities condemned the attack as a serious breach of international humanitarian law.

Israel’s military said it had targeted Hezbollah weapons storage sites, militant infrastructure and a command centre allegedly located inside a building that had previously been used as a hospital.

Before one of the attacks, the Israeli military issued an evacuation warning to residents near a building in Arab Salim that it identified as a Hezbollah facility. Lebanese state media reported that another house was struck before the building named in the warning was attacked.

The strikes caused extensive damage to residential properties and nearby buildings. Local reports said furniture and other belongings were scattered across the rubble, while surrounding structures also suffered damage.

Government Buildings Damaged

Further Israeli strikes were reported in the Nabatieh area, including an attack involving a motorcycle. Another strike in Nabatieh city damaged a historic building and offices belonging to the regional finance and agriculture authorities.

Nabatieh Mayor Abbas Fakhreddine called on the Lebanese government to respond to the attacks and protect state institutions, saying government buildings had now been damaged by Israeli strikes on more than one occasion.

Lebanon became increasingly involved in the wider Middle East conflict in March after Hezbollah launched attacks against Israel in support of Iran. Israel responded with airstrikes and a ground offensive inside Lebanon, with Lebanese authorities saying the conflict has killed more than 4,300 people.

Although violence has declined following a US-Iran memorandum of understanding and the Israel-Lebanon framework agreement reached in June, Israeli forces continue to operate inside a self-declared security zone extending roughly 10 kilometres into Lebanese territory along the border.