Five people, among them three children, died in Bint Jbeil, southern Lebanon, following a drone strike on Sunday attributed to Israeli forces, as confirmed by the Lebanese health ministry. The strike also resulted in two injuries. This incident stands out as one of the gravest events in the ongoing cycle of violence between Israel and Hezbollah seen in recent months. Lebanese officials swiftly denounced the strike, labelling it a deliberate assault on civilians.
DETAILS OF THE ATTACK AND CASUALTIES
Reports from Lebanon’s state news agency state that the drone strike hit both a motorbike and a vehicle. The immediate result: a father and his three children lost their lives, while the mother was wounded. According to Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, the family possessed United States citizenship. Two further injuries were recorded in connection with the strike.
RESPONSE FROM THE ISRAELI MILITARY
Israel’s military acknowledged responsibility for the operation, indicating the intended target was a Hezbollah member. The official statement admitted there were unintended civilian deaths, stating “several uninvolved civilians were killed.” The Israeli Defence Forces further clarified: “The IDF regrets any harm to uninvolved individuals and operates to minimise harm as much as possible. The incident is under review.”
LEBANESE AUTHORITIES CONDEMN THE ACTION
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam offered a forceful response, characterising the strike as a “blatant crime against civilians and a message of intimidation aimed at our people returning to their villages in the south” in a statement published on X. The development has sharpened scrutiny of Israeli military operations near the Lebanese border, especially regarding civilian exposure to violence.
Since the November truce negotiated by the United States, Israeli strikes on positions described as Hezbollah sites in southern Lebanon have persisted. This ongoing military activity follows more than a year of conflict initiated by the escalation in Gaza. Skirmishes, airstrikes, and retaliations have become frequent, repeatedly putting non-combatants at risk.
Lebanon continues to face intense demands from the United States, Saudi Arabia, and internal political factions to work toward disarming Hezbollah, a group backed by Iran. However, the continued violence complicates prospects for reducing tensions or pursuing disarmament.
HEZBOLLAH’S STANCE ON WEAPONS
Hezbollah has issued the following: “Hezbollah has said it would be a serious misstep even to discuss disarmament while Israel is continuing airstrikes on Lebanon and occupying swaths of territory in its south.” The group’s leadership has maintained that any negotiation regarding its arsenal remains off the table during ongoing Israeli strikes and territorial occupation.
HEIGHTENED RISKS AND HUMANITARIAN CONCERNS
This strike has drawn further attention to persistent threats facing civilians in areas bordering Israel. Fatalities involving children and dual nationals have prompted renewed international attention, while residents in southern Lebanese communities express apprehension about returning home amidst ongoing uncertainty.
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With inputs from Reuters