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Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon killed at least 11 people, according to reports from Lebanon’s Health Ministry and the Associated Press.
Deadly Strikes Hit Ansar and Deir al-Zahrani
The deadliest bombardment struck a residential home on the edge of the southern village of Ansar, killing seven people, including three children and a woman, and wounding two others, according to Lebanon’s Ministry of Health and the National News Agency (NNA). A separate strike on the nearby village of Deir al-Zahrani killed four people and left 17 others wounded. According to a statement from the Israel Defense Forces, the strike on Ansar targeted Ali Samir Al-Haj Hassan, whom the military identified as a battalion commander within Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force. The Israeli military stated that Haj Hassan’s family was harmed in the compound but emphasized that civilians were not the intended targets.
Political Repercussions and Truce Pressures
The renewed violence threatens the framework agreement announced by Israel and the Lebanese government on June 26, which outlines a phased Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon paired with the disarmament of Hezbollah. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned the airstrikes on X, stating that the victims in Ansar were not military infrastructure and that managing military assets is strictly the responsibility of the Lebanese state. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun warned that the bombardment serves as a direct challenge to ongoing negotiations and American-led stabilization efforts. Meanwhile, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted that the military acted in self-defense after Hezbollah violated the ceasefire by launching an explosive drone that seriously wounded three Israeli soldiers inside southern Lebanon.
Stances on Disarmament and Direct Talks
The renewed conflict highlights deep divisions over the implementation of the June 26 framework, which has seen seven rounds of negotiations held in locations such as Rome. Hezbollah has steadfastly refused direct talks with Israel and rejected demands to disarm, arguing through public statements that U.S. mediation serves as diplomatic cover for Israeli military actions. Hezbollah officials criticized the Lebanese state’s pursuit of U.S.-backed diplomacy, claiming that Washington is a partner in the ongoing conflict.
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