18 people martyred in Zionist regime’s airstrikes on southern Lebanon despite ceasefire
A series of intense Zionist regime’s airstrikes targeting multiple towns across southern Lebanon from midnight through the early morning hours left 18 people martyred and 33 others wounded, according to a preliminary toll released by the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health’s Emergency Operations Center. The attacks mark another escalation despite the existing ceasefire agreement.
The ministry said the scale and intensity of the strikes have hindered rescue and civil defense operations, preventing emergency crews from reaching some of the affected areas. The death toll is expected to rise as search and rescue efforts continue.
According to the initial figures, the casualties were distributed as follows: seven killed and ten wounded in Doueir, three killed in Harouf, three killed and two wounded in Sharqiya, one killed in Abbassiyeh, two killed and two wounded in Qatrani, and two killed in Jibchit, in addition to injuries reported in Qaqaiyat al-Jisr, Nabatieh, Kfarsir, Adchit, and Habboush.
In a related development, Lebanon’s Civil Defense Directorate announced the killing of Mahmoud Jaafar Choueib, a civil defense worker from the Doueir center in the Nabatieh region, who was killed along with members of his family in an Israeli strike on the town of Sharqiya.
Lebanon’s National News Agency also reported that an Israeli airstrike on a residential building near the education school district in Doueir resulted in the deaths of seven people.
The strikes come amid continued Israeli violations of the ceasefire and targeted attacks on civilian areas and residential buildings in southern Lebanon, causing further casualties and destruction. The escalation follows the signing of a US-Iran agreement aimed at ending hostilities across regional fronts, including Lebanon, and guaranteeing the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military announced that four soldiers were killed, including the commander of the 52nd Battalion of the elite Givati Brigade, during what it described as “difficult and complex” clashes with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon overnight.
Israeli media reported that the local council of the Adam settlement, northeast of Occupied Jerusalem, confirmed the death of one of its residents serving in the military. Reports added that the slain battalion commander was a lieutenant colonel in the Armored Corps who led the 52nd Battalion within the Givati Brigade.
According to Israeli reports, 17 additional soldiers were wounded during an attack on an Israeli force near the town of Kfartebnit in southern Lebanon, in addition to the four fatalities.
Israel’s public broadcaster also reported that a senior officer from the army’s 36th Division was injured during the overnight clashes.
Zionist regime’s military sources said the “serious security incident” occurred near Kfartebnit and involved an attack on a tank belonging to the 52nd Battalion, resulting in multiple casualties. Authorities are reportedly investigating whether the tank was struck by an armed drone or a guided missile.
Separately, the Israeli military acknowledged on Friday morning that four soldiers were killed in another incident after being hit by an explosive-laden drone in southern Lebanon, according to Army Radio.
For its part, Hezbollah announced that it had targeted an Israeli force attempting to infiltrate the northern side of the Ali al-Taher hill in southern Lebanon. In a military statement, Hezbollah said the force, which included armored and infantry units, was lured into a “kill zone” before being engaged with various weapons, leading to direct clashes.