At least 13 people were killed in southern Lebanon after fresh Israeli air strikes targeted several areas, according to Lebanon’s state media and health officials. The attacks came despite an ongoing ceasefire between Israel and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported that six people were killed and seven others injured after an Israeli strike hit a house in Kfar Dounine overnight.
In another incident on Tuesday, Lebanon’s health ministry said two paramedics from the Lebanese Civil Defense emergency service were killed while carrying out a rescue mission in Nabatieh. A third paramedic was injured in the strike. The rescue team had responded to an earlier attack that reportedly killed one person.
The two paramedics were identified as Hussein Jaber and Ahmad Noura. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun expressed sadness over their deaths and said continued Israeli attacks were affecting efforts to restore calm in the region.
Lebanon’s health ministry accused Israel of deliberately targeting emergency workers and said the attacks were a violation of international humanitarian law. The ministry also stated that 108 emergency medical and healthcare workers have been killed in Lebanon during the conflict, with more than 140 attacks recorded on ambulances and medical facilities.
Meanwhile, NNA reported that a Syrian man was killed and his wife injured when an Israeli drone targeted a motorcycle in the Tayr Debba area.
The Israeli military said it targeted a suspect who was allegedly trying to launch a surface-to-air missile at one of its aircraft. It also claimed Hezbollah fighters launched explosive drones towards Israeli troops in southern Lebanon, though no casualties were reported.
Another three people were reportedly killed in an Israeli strike on Jabshit later on Tuesday.
Hezbollah announced that it had launched drone attacks targeting Israeli troops in Naqoura, Bayada, and Houla in southern Lebanon. The group also claimed to have targeted an Israeli soldier in Kibbutz Manara in northern Israel.
Israel has increased its military operations in southern Lebanon in recent days, saying it is targeting Hezbollah fighters and infrastructure. Israeli officials accuse the Iran-backed group of violating the US-brokered ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and Lebanon in April.
In response, Hezbollah has continued rocket and drone attacks on northern Israel and Israeli military positions in southern Lebanon.
Israeli and Lebanese officials are expected to meet again in Washington on Thursday in an effort to find a solution to end the ongoing conflict.
The latest conflict began on 2 March, shortly after the United States and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran. Hezbollah then fired rockets into Israel, leading to heavy Israeli air strikes and a ground invasion of southern Lebanon.
According to Lebanon’s health ministry, at least 2,869 people have been killed in Lebanon since the conflict began, including more than 380 people after the ceasefire took effect. Israeli authorities say 18 soldiers and four civilians have been killed during the same period.
