Israel’s military operations in southern Lebanon intensified on Monday, with air strikes killing at least 12 people, including a woman and a child, according to Lebanese authorities. The attacks came as Lebanon’s defence minister stated that Israel has carried out nearly 3,500 strikes since a US-brokered ceasefire came into effect on April 17.
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The Lebanese health ministry said a dawn strike on the town of Zifta in the Nabatieh district killed seven people, among them a Syrian child and a woman, while eight others were injured. Later in the day, another Israeli strike targeted the southern city of Tyre, killing five people and wounding eight others, including four Red Cross paramedics.
Israeli officials have indicated that military operations will continue despite growing regional tensions and threats linked to Iran. The latest attacks have raised fresh concerns about the stability of the ceasefire agreement that was intended to reduce hostilities along the Israel-Lebanon border.
During a cabinet meeting in Beirut, Defence Minister Michel Menassa said Israel had conducted 3,491 air strikes between April 17 and June 7, along with hundreds of controlled demolitions and several large-scale destruction operations in southern Lebanon. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam warned that the continued escalation has triggered new waves of displacement, adding to the humanitarian challenges facing the country.
The bombardment in Tyre also reportedly damaged parts of the city’s ancient archaeological complex, a Unesco World Heritage site. Lebanese cultural officials said several historic structures and artefacts were affected by debris from nearby strikes, prompting calls for greater protection of cultural heritage.
Read More: Israel strikes Lebanon despite ceasefire
Meanwhile, Hezbollah denied claims by US President Donald Trump that the group had engaged in direct communications with his administration. Senior Hezbollah official Mahmud Qomati said no direct contact had taken place, rejecting Trump’s recent remarks suggesting discussions had occurred through intermediaries.