Israel Strikes Southern Lebanon; Hezbollah Claims Drone Attacks

Israeli aircraft conducted extensive raids on towns in southern Lebanon, including Kafr Rumman, Arabsalim, and Nabatieh al-Fawqa, on Monday. A drone strike targeted an ambulance belonging to the Al-Risala Association in Kafr Rumman, injuring several people. In Deir Zahrani, an Israeli airstrike hit a building shortly after the Israeli military issued an evacuation order. Artillery shelling extended to the outskirts of Nabatieh, Kafr Rumman, Jabal al-Rafi, and Tal al-Dabsha, reflecting ongoing escalation and repeated ceasefire violations in southern Lebanon.

Earlier on Monday, rescue teams recovered ten injured individuals from a building in Kafr Rumman that had been targeted by the Israeli military, according to the National News Agency. The Israeli military stated that the strikes in Deir Zahrani were justified by Hezbollah launching two drones toward Israeli soldiers in what it described as a "security zone" in southern Lebanon, calling it a ceasefire violation. The military had also issued an evacuation warning for buildings in Arabsalim, which it identified as Hezbollah facilities.

Amidst this escalation, Lebanon's Ministry of Public Health reported cumulative casualties from Israeli aggression between March 2 and September 6, totaling 4,362 killed and 12,378 wounded. The overall toll since October 8, 2023, stands at 8,929 killed and 30,614 wounded.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun urged the United States to take "urgent action" to halt the Israeli raids, warning of "dangerous escalation" following seven deaths in Israeli strikes despite the declared ceasefire with Hezbollah and an framework agreement between the two governments. The current escalation is part of the wider regional conflict, which extended to Lebanon on March 2 after Hezbollah launched rockets toward Israel in response to the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Since October 2023, Israel has been engaged in open conflict with Hezbollah, which declared a "support front" for Gaza and its ally Hamas, leading to continuous clashes along the Lebanese-Israeli border.