SHEBAA — Nine individuals were killed early Friday following an Israeli airstrike on a residential area in the southeastern Lebanese town of Shebaa, as confirmed by the Lebanese Health Ministry.
According to Namibia Press Agency, the Ministry of Public Health’s Emergency Operations Center reported that within the last 24 hours, Israeli airstrikes have resulted in the deaths of 49 people and injuries to 80 others across southern Lebanon. Lebanese military sources, preferring to remain anonymous, detailed to Xinhua that the airstrike involved two air-to-ground missiles launched by an Israeli warplane at around 3 a.m. GMT, targeting a family home in Shebaa. This attack resulted in the deaths of nine family members and the destruction of their residence. The Lebanese Red Cross subsequently transferred the bodies to Hasbaya Governmental Hospital.
Further, the sources revealed that there were 39 airstrikes in southern Lebanon and 30 in eastern Lebanon during the early hours, which led to the destruction of approximately 80 homes, a fuel station, and significant damage to the local electricity network. Additionally, the National News Agency reported a significant air raid initiated by Israeli warplanes starting at midnight, particularly impacting the Nabatieh area, focusing near the cemetery in the Al-Masha’a and Al-Bayad neighborhoods.
This violence comes amid escalating confrontations between Hezbollah and Israel, following Israel’s announcement to expand its operational targets against Hamas into Lebanon. This expansion is aimed at facilitating the return of displaced settlers to northern Israel. Concurrently, Hezbollah has declared its escalation in operations to support Gaza, amidst ongoing hostilities between Hamas and Israel, raising fears of a broader regional conflict.
