BEIRUT (AP) — Eight people died Wednesday when Israeli drones targeted three vehicles traveling on a major highway south of Beirut, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. Among the victims were a mother and her two young children.
Israel’s military confirmed it had targeted Hezbollah facilities across multiple locations in southern Lebanon, coming just hours after ordering residents in six southern villages to leave their homes.
The deadly strikes come as Lebanon and Israel prepare for another session of direct negotiations in Washington on Thursday, with the Trump administration working to achieve a diplomatic breakthrough between the two nations that have remained in a state of conflict since Israel’s establishment in 1948.
Health Ministry officials verified the three separate attacks in an official statement but did not specify how many people were in each targeted vehicle.
Two of the Wednesday drone attacks occurred on the highway connecting Beirut to the southern port city of Sidon, while Lebanon’s state-run National news agency reported a third strike in the town of Saadiyat, located near the busy roadway. State media also reported a fourth attack during the early afternoon at Sidon’s northern entrance, where a car was hit.
An Associated Press photographer witnessed the remains of three victims from two of the strikes that occurred near the coastal communities of Barja and Jiyeh.
Throughout southern Lebanon, Israeli airstrikes continued to be reported across various towns and villages, while Hezbollah claimed responsibility for additional attacks against Israel. Both sides have maintained their exchange of fire despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement that took effect on April 17.
The current Israel-Hezbollah conflict began on March 2, when the Lebanese militant organization launched rockets into northern Israel, occurring two days following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran.
Lebanese Health Minister Rakan Nassereddine informed reporters on Tuesday that 380 people have lost their lives and 1,122 have been injured since the ceasefire began. These figures bring the total casualties since the war’s start to 2,882 deaths and 8,786 wounded.
