At least 14 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon on Sunday, according to Lebanon’s health ministry, marking the deadliest day since a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah came into effect just over a week ago.
The latest escalation comes amid renewed accusations from both sides of violations of the truce. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the military was “vigorously” targeting Hezbollah, while the Iran-backed group vowed continued retaliation against what it described as ongoing breaches.
According to Lebanese authorities, the fatalities included two women and two children, while 37 others were injured in the strikes. The health ministry also reported that at least 36 people have been killed since the ceasefire began, based on accumulated figures.
The Israeli military said one of its soldiers was killed during combat in southern Lebanon, with six others wounded, including four in serious condition. The army has continued operations inside what it describes as an “yellow line” zone along the border, warning civilians not to return to affected areas.
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported multiple airstrikes across the south, including in towns previously under evacuation warnings. Residents fled north in large numbers as bombardments intensified, with heavy traffic reported on key routes.
Netanyahu accused Hezbollah of undermining the ceasefire, saying Israel retains the right to respond to “planned, imminent or ongoing attacks” under the agreement reached with mediation involving the United States and Lebanon.
“This includes freedom of action not only to respond to attacks, but also to pre-empt threats,” he said.
In response, Hezbollah stated that continued Israeli strikes and what it called violations of Lebanese sovereignty would be met with retaliation, claiming it had targeted Israeli positions in southern Lebanon.
The Israeli military said it struck what it described as rocket-launching cells and weapons storage facilities, adding that it had also intercepted drones heading towards Israeli territory.
Lebanon’s health ministry reported that more than 2,500 people have been killed and over 7,700 injured since the wider conflict erupted, underscoring the continuing toll despite international efforts to stabilise the situation.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) held a memorial in Beirut for an Indonesian peacekeeper who died following an earlier blast in southern Lebanon, with preliminary findings indicating an Israeli tank shell may have caused the explosion.
