Israeli strike wounds 12 in Lebanon, including children, in latest string of attacks

An Israeli strike on Lebanon’s Nabatieh wounded at least 12 people, including four children, marking the latest string of attacks on the country.

The strike targeted a building in southern Lebanon, and comes despite a ceasefire agreement – something which Israel has repeatedly violated since it came into effect.

"The Israeli enemy’s strike on the Kassar Zaatar neighbourhood in Nabatieh resulted, according to an initial toll, in 12 civilians being wounded, including four children and seven women," Lebanon’s health ministry said in a statement.

The country’s National News Agency (NNA) reported that ambulance teams were rapidly deployed to the scene to transport the wounded to nearby hospitals.

The Israeli army's Arabic-speaking spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, later said on X that "the air force struck the Hezbollah command headquarters in the Nabatieh region", without offering any evidence.

Last week, five people were killed in Lebanon after Israeli warplanes struck the eastern part of the country. The attacks hit Bekaa and Hermel, with the National News Agency later stating seven bombs struck the areas.

Israel claimed the rapid attacks were to target military facilities and depots, reportedly used by Hezbollah; however, this was not verified.

Last month, leading rights group Amnesty International raised the alarm over the Israeli army extensively destroying and damaging civilian infrastructure and land in southern Lebanon.

The rights group said the army was using manually laid explosives and bulldozers both before and after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah that took effect on 27 November 2024.

"Among the structures affected are homes, mosques, cemeteries, roads, parks and football pitches. In one village, satellite imagery showed the Star of David, a Jewish symbol, carved into the ground," the rights group noted.

Since the ceasefire in November 2023, Israel was supposed to fully withdraw from southern Lebanon by January; however, it has not done so. Tel Aviv still has troops in the country and maintains a military presence at five border outposts.