Seven people lost their lives, including one child, when Israeli forces targeted the Lebanese town of Saksakiyeh on Saturday, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. Fifteen others sustained injuries in the attack.
Israeli military officials confirmed they conducted the operation against Hezbollah fighters in the area, claiming the militants were preparing assaults on Israeli troops.
“The IDF is aware of reports regarding harm to uninvolved civilians in the structure in which the terrorists were struck. The details of the incident are under review,” military officials stated.
The deadly confrontation marks continued violence between Israeli forces and the armed group Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, where Israel maintains what it calls a security zone. This ongoing conflict persists even after a ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States was announced on April 16.
Earlier this week, Israeli forces reported killing a high-ranking Hezbollah commander from the elite Radwan unit on Wednesday. The strike on Beirut’s southern suburbs was the first of its kind since the ceasefire declaration.
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts continue as the United States facilitates discussions between Lebanese and Israeli representatives. These meetings represent the most significant diplomatic contact between the two nations’ government officials in many years.
State Department officials confirmed that Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors to Washington will participate in a third round of negotiations scheduled for Thursday and Friday this week.
