At least 18 people lost their lives in Israeli airstrikes targeting southern Lebanon on Friday, Lebanon’s health ministry reported, while Israel’s military announced that four of its soldiers were also killed — marking one of the most deadly single incidents since the current wave of fighting escalated.
Lebanon’s health ministry said that heavy airstrikes beginning around midnight severely hampered rescue and evacuation operations in the region. Officials reported a preliminary count of 18 dead and 33 wounded, with that number expected to climb as the situation developed.
Residents and Lebanese media outlets reported that airstrikes and shelling struck multiple towns in the Nabatieh district throughout the night and into the early morning hours of Friday. Lebanon’s state news agency NNA described the bombardment as among the heaviest seen in the area in recent weeks.
The Israeli military said its strikes were aimed at what it characterized as Hezbollah operatives and infrastructure spread across several parts of southern Lebanon. Israel said the attacks were carried out in response to what it called repeated ceasefire violations by the Iran-backed group.
Hezbollah claimed its fighters ambushed an Israeli force near Ali al-Taher hill in southern Lebanon, saying they destroyed three Merkava tanks using guided missiles and struck troops with rocket and artillery fire. The group indicated that fighting was still ongoing at the time of the report.
The surge in violence came one day after Israel released a map showing an expanded military control zone in southern Lebanon. Israel also indicated it would not rule out conducting operations beyond that zone, raising fresh concerns about a U.S.-brokered agreement reached on Wednesday intended to bring an end to the conflict between the U.S., Israel, and Iran.
That agreement calls for a halt to hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon, and requires all parties to respect Lebanon’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
A senior Israeli official said Israel is engaged in what he described as “stubborn negotiations” with U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration over keeping Israeli troops positioned up to 10 kilometers — roughly 6.2 miles — inside southern Lebanon as the country continues its pursuit of Hezbollah.
Israel has refused calls to pull its forces out of southern Lebanon, while Hezbollah has continued launching attacks on Israeli positions, including strikes using explosive drones that have resulted in both deaths and injuries among Israeli troops this week.
