Israeli Strikes Kill 11 in Southern Lebanon Amid Rising Tensions and US Warning to Hezbollah

On Saturday, Israeli airstrikes targeted the Ali Taher ridge area in southern Lebanon, killing 11 people and injuring 19, according to Lebanese media reports. The attacks struck the villages of Deir al-Zahrani and Al-Ansar, with four fatalities and 17 wounded in the former, including a child and 11 women. In Al-Ansar, seven people died, among them two children and three women, as confirmed by the Lebanese Ministry of Health. The Israeli military acknowledged the strikes, stating they targeted Hezbollah infrastructure following terrorist actions against Israeli forces within the security zone.

Hezbollah condemned the attacks as a "cruel massacre" against civilians, accusing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of escalating the conflict to bolster his political standing ahead of elections and appease the far-right. Hezbollah urged Lebanese authorities to consider all means to halt Israeli aggression and criticized ongoing direct negotiations with Israel as humiliating and futile.

In response to questions about when the Israeli strikes would cease, US Ambassador to Lebanon Michael Aoun stated that "if Hezbollah surrenders its weapons, everything will stop." Hezbollah denounced this statement, accusing the US of siding with Israel and undermining Lebanese sovereignty. The group warned that Israeli aggression would be met with an appropriate response.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the violations of the framework agreement and international laws protecting civilians, highlighting the death of an entire family in Al-Ansar as a clear message regarding the negotiation process and US efforts to implement the agreement. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati described the escalation as dangerous and damaging to stability, emphasizing that the victims were not part of any military infrastructure and that Lebanon alone is responsible for its military assets.

Reports from Lebanese sources indicated that Iran has warned relevant parties that any Israeli strike on Ali Taher would prompt Iran's entry into the escalation cycle. Israel reportedly refuses to withdraw from the area to allow Lebanese army control, while Hezbollah insists on a full Israeli withdrawal before any transfer of control. There are concerns in Beirut that Israel is preparing for a possible offensive to seize the strategic Ali Taher ridge, awaiting US approval for such a move.