Israeli airstrikes killed at least 11 people and wounded 19 in southern Lebanon on Saturday, marking the worst toll since a June ceasefire. The strikes hit residential homes in Ansar and Deir ez-Zahrani, drawing swift condemnation from Lebanese leaders and fierce warnings of retaliation from Hezbollah.
Deadly Strikes Shatter Lull in Southern Lebanon
A pair of devastating airstrikes tore through southern Lebanon early Saturday morning, shattering months of relative calm established under a US-sponsored framework agreement. The attacks leveled homes, choked roads with traffic as families fled north, and produced the worst single-day death toll since hostilities subsided in June.
In the Nabatieh district village of Ansar, a warplane bombed a residential building on the outskirts, killing seven people, including three children, and flattening the structure. State media reported that an Israeli drone also targeted a motorcycle in nearby Nabatieh, though the driver’s condition remained unclear.
The Lebanese Ministry of Health confirmed the overall toll climbed to at least 11 dead and 19 injured. Al Jazeera reporter Ali Hashem, broadcasting from the ground in Ansar, noted the deep psychological impact on residents who considered the targeted village a safe haven.
“This is an area seen by people as safe, but an air attack has now hit.”
Ali Hashem, Al Jazeera reporter
Military Justifications and State Rejections
The Israeli military offered a distinct tactical justification for the bombardment. A spokesperson stated that air forces targeted Hezbollah infrastructure in Ansar and Nabatieh in direct response to an earlier action against Israeli soldiers stationed near the Ali al-Taher Ridge—an elevated position the military describes as a hub for underground command and control centers.
Lebanese officials rejected that rationale outright. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned the operation as extremely dangerous, arguing that the victims were civilians rather than military targets.
Salam maintained that responsibility for addressing any military installations on sovereign Lebanese soil rests exclusively with the state and its armed forces, adding that Israel’s military presence does not grant it the right to violate borders or endanger civilians. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun echoed those sentiments, asserting that the continuous strikes violate international law, the work of military coordinators, and the ongoing implementation of the June ceasefire framework.
Political Fallout and Hezbollah’s Warnings
Hezbollah responded with a harsh statement criticizing the Lebanese government for engaging in direct negotiations and relying on American mediation, which the group argued ultimately serves foreign interests over national sovereignty.
Just a day prior to the strikes, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem publicly rebuked state authorities for exposing the military to bombardment and pressure rather than acting as its protector. Meanwhile, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri labeled the military campaign a massacre, describing the violence as part of a broader extermination effort in the south.
Broader Destruction Across the South
Beyond the airstrikes in Nabatieh district, state media reported a wide array of military actions across southern Lebanon. The National News Agency noted that a strike hit the valley between Ansar and Zarariyeh—marking the first time an attack reached that geographical depth since the ceasefire two months ago. Near the border, forces detonated residential buildings in Bint Jbeil and opened heavy machinegun fire along local roadways.
These developments unfold against a backdrop of enduring territorial control. According to Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, Israeli forces retain control over roughly 700 square kilometres (270 square miles) of Lebanese territory, amounting to about 7 percent of the country. Katz stated that forces will not withdraw until Hezbollah is fully disarmed.
As rescue workers sift through the rubble in Deir ez-Zahrani and Ansar, the future of the June framework—which envisioned disarmament, a gradual Israeli withdrawal, and the deployment of the Lebanese army—faces its most severe test yet.
