One Killed, 25 Wounded in South Lebanon as Israeli Strikes Escalate Tensions

A woman was killed and at least 25 others wounded in Israeli air and drone strikes across southern Lebanon on Friday, according to Lebanon’s health ministry, as both countries exchanged sharp rhetoric over the latest escalation of violence near the border.

The Lebanese government condemned the attacks as a “blatant violation” of national sovereignty and ceasefire terms, while the Israeli military accused Hezbollah of storing weapons in civilian areas and claimed that its air force had targeted a strategic underground facility operated by the group.

Civilian casualties reported in Nabatiyeh and Shaqra

The Lebanese health ministry announced that an “Israeli enemy strike on an apartment in Nabatiyeh” killed one woman and wounded 14 others, citing reports from the official National News Agency (NNA). The agency said the attack was carried out by an Israeli drone.

Additional Israeli strikes in the Nabatiyeh region reportedly injured seven more people, followed by another drone strike in the southern town of Shaqra that left four others wounded, bringing the total number of injured to 25.

Israel denies targeting civilian buildings

Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee responded on social media, asserting that the army “did not target any civilian building.” According to Adraee, the explosion in the residential structure was caused by a Hezbollah rocket that detonated inside the facility after the strike hit nearby infrastructure.

Israeli jets strike Hezbollah facility near Beaufort Ridge

The Israeli military confirmed its fighter jets struck a site allegedly used by Hezbollah to manage its fire and defense operations in the Beaufort Ridge area, near Nabatiyeh and the Israeli-Lebanese border. The site, according to the army, was “part of a significant underground project that was completely taken out of use.”

The military claimed the site had recently been undergoing rehabilitation efforts, prompting the raid. “We identified rehabilitation attempts made by Hezbollah beforehand and struck terror infrastructure sites in the area,” the statement said, calling Hezbollah’s actions “a blatant violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon.”

Beirut denounces violations of UN-backed ceasefire

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam echoed the condemnation, calling the bombardments “a blatant violation of national sovereignty and the cessation of hostilities arrangements.” He warned the escalation threatened the fragile stability along the border.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the strikes, accusing Israel of continuing to disregard regional and international resolutions. He called for urgent international action to halt the ongoing attacks.

Lebanon’s foreign ministry submitted a formal letter to the United Nations requesting the renewal of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) mandate, which expires in August. The letter also demanded Israel’s full withdrawal from all Lebanese territory and an end to its ongoing violations.

Ceasefire terms under strain

Under the terms of the November 27 ceasefire, Hezbollah was required to pull its fighters north of the Litani River, approximately 30 kilometers from the Israeli border. Israel, in turn, was to withdraw its forces from Lebanese territory but has maintained a presence in five strategic locations in the south.

UN Security Council resolutions supporting the truce call for the disarmament of all non-state groups and stipulate that only Lebanese troops and UN peacekeepers are permitted to bear arms in the southern region. Lebanese authorities have reiterated their commitment to dismantling Hezbollah infrastructure and enforcing a state monopoly on arms.

Israel, however, has warned it will continue strikes on Hezbollah positions until the group is disarmed. Friday’s events mark the latest in a series of confrontations that have persisted despite international calls for de-escalation.