Israeli military has been intensifying its bombardment of southern Lebanon, killing at least 11 people, including two children and two medics, in the town of Deir Zahrani. This is just one day after seven people were killed in Israeli strikes on Sunday. The attacks are part of a larger conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, a militant group backed by Iran.
The situation escalated when Israel claimed to have captured the Nabatieh-area Ali al-Taher ridge, which it considers part of its self-declared "security zone" in south Lebanon. However, Hezbollah has not commented on this claim. In response, Israel says it targeted Hezbollah operatives and sites in response to a drone attack by the group on its troops.
Lebanon President Joseph Aoun has called for international help, including from the United States, to stop Israeli attacks that have damaged government premises and destroyed an out-of-service hospital. The conflict is also affecting efforts to resolve the war in Iran, with unrest in Lebanon complicating diplomacy.
The violence started after a June ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, which was meant to halt fighting between the two sides. However, since then, Ali Taher Hill, a strategic hill overlooking parts of the main southern city, has been the scene of daily shelling and airstrikes by Israel's military, with Hezbollah repeatedly attacking Israeli forces in the area with drones.
At least 20 people were wounded in Sunday's strikes, including two girls who were among six others injured in an air attack on Arab Salim. Two women were killed in that strike, while two men were killed in a town near the occupied zone occupied by Israeli troops.
The exact number of casualties and damage from the ongoing conflict is not clear, but it is reported that a hospital was destroyed and a Finance Ministry building was damaged in Sunday's strikes.
Israeli strikes on a southern Lebanese town early on Monday killed at least 11 people including two children and two medics, Lebanon's state news agency said.
Israel has intensified its bombardment of south Lebanon in recent days despite a June ceasefire that was meant to halt fighting between the Israeli military and Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.
