Israeli strikes kill 14 in Southern Lebanon

At least 14 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes across southern Lebanon on Thursday as tensions escalated ahead of crucial security talks between Lebanese and Israeli officials in Washington.

According to Lebanon’s Health Ministry and state-run National News Agency, those killed included women, children and a Lebanese soldier, while dozens of others were injured in the attacks.

The Israeli military carried out strikes on multiple locations, including the coastal cities of Tyre and Sidon, following warnings issued by Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee asking residents to evacuate several buildings and surrounding neighbourhoods.

In Sidon, an Israeli drone strike hit an apartment building housing displaced families, killing five people and injuring 21 others, including children. Among those killed was Hossan Zeidan, a former correspondent for Iran’s Arabic-language Al-Aalam television channel.

Another strike in the coastal town of Adloun targeted a car carrying a fleeing family, killing six people, including two children and their parents, according to Lebanese authorities.

Near Nabatiyeh, the Lebanese military said one of its soldiers was killed in an Israeli drone attack while riding a motorcycle.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military confirmed that one Israeli soldier was killed and two reservists were wounded in a Hezbollah drone attack in northern Israel.

The escalation comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced an expansion of military operations in Lebanon, reportedly following Hezbollah’s use of fibre-optic exploding drones targeting Israeli troops and border towns.

Lebanese and Israeli military officials are expected to hold their first direct security talks in Washington on Friday as part of efforts linked to a ceasefire that came into effect on April 17. However, violence has continued despite the truce.

Hezbollah has rejected the talks and instead backed Iran’s position that ending the war in Lebanon should be tied to broader negotiations with the United States.