Seven people were killed and 40 others injured as Israeli airstrikes targeted eastern and southern Lebanon on Saturday evening, according to Lebanon’s health authorities.
A Lebanese security source reported that Israel carried out 15 airstrikes during the evening. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that the Israeli Air Force launched a second wave of strikes against what it claimed were Hezbollah command centers, infrastructure sites, militants, rocket launchers, and a weapons storage facility across Lebanon.
“We will continue to strike as required to protect Israeli civilians,” the IDF said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz instructed the IDF to launch the second wave of strikes in response to rockets fired into northern Israel earlier on Saturday morning. “The Lebanese government is responsible for everything that happens on its territory,” the Israeli Defense Minister’s Office stated. “Israel will not allow any harm to its citizens and sovereignty, and will act in every way to ensure the security of Israeli citizens and northern communities.”
Earlier, the Israeli military reported intercepting rockets launched from Lebanon toward the northern Israeli town of Metula. No casualties were reported in Israel, according to emergency services.
The first wave of Israeli attacks on Saturday afternoon hit areas near the villages of Touline, Kfar Melki, Mleeta, and the Wadi al-Hujeir valley in southern Lebanon, according to Lebanon’s state-owned National News Agency (NNA). A residential building in Touline was destroyed, leaving one dead and three wounded.
As part of diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation, Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji held talks with several regional foreign ministers and officials, urging pressure on Israel to halt its offensive and contain the growing crisis along the southern border, the NNA reported.
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) expressed alarm over the violence. “We strongly urge all parties to refrain from actions that could jeopardize the fragile stability,” UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti said, warning that further escalation could have “severe consequences.” UNIFIL peacekeepers were maintaining patrols to de-escalate tensions.
