Israeli Strikes on Southern Lebanon Kill 12 as Fears of Wider Escalation Grow

Israeli airstrikes on the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Rumman killed at least 12 people, including two children, on Monday, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry, as renewed violence threatens to further strain a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

The strikes hit the village early Monday. One attack struck a residential building, killing 11 people, including two children and four women, while eight others were wounded. A separate Israeli drone strike on a vehicle killed a paramedic and injured two other medics, according to Lebanese authorities.

The Israeli military said its strikes were carried out in response to two Hezbollah drone attacks targeting Israeli troops operating in Lebanon. Israel said it had targeted a Hezbollah militant who was allegedly transporting weapons to Kfar Rumman. Hezbollah did not immediately claim responsibility for the reported drone attacks.

Israel’s military said it had taken measures intended to limit harm to civilians, including the use of precision weapons and aerial surveillance. It also said it was reviewing reports that uninvolved people had been harmed.

Rescue workers spent hours searching through the rubble of the destroyed residential building, using heavy machinery to recover victims.

Reuters reported that children’s schoolbooks were scattered among the concrete debris at the scene. The agency also reported that an eight-year-old boy, Mustafa Farhat, was injured in the strike and lost several members of his family.

Residents described growing fear in the area, with one resident saying the latest strike had hit the heart of the town rather than its outskirts. Another vowed to remain in his hometown despite the continuing attacks.

The latest strikes come despite a June ceasefire framework intended to halt fighting between Israel and Hezbollah and establish steps toward Israeli withdrawal from parts of southern Lebanon and the disarmament of Hezbollah.

However, violence has continued, particularly around the strategic Ali al-Taher ridge, which Israel says it now controls operationally. Israeli forces have continued strikes in areas around the ridge, while Hezbollah has carried out attacks against Israeli troops.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry says more than 4,300 people have been killed in Israeli strikes since March, including more than 250 children and over 130 medics. The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its overall toll.

The latest deaths have heightened fears that the escalating exchanges could develop into a broader Israeli-Hezbollah confrontation, threatening an already fragile period of calm in southern Lebanon.