Israeli deadly strikes in southern Lebanon, as well as Hezbollah operations, continued on Tuesday despite the ceasefire that came into effect on April 17 and was extended by 45 days last Friday. In the early afternoon, the Israeli army ordered the evacuation of 12 localities in the South and in the Bekaa, including Nabatiye el-Tahta, a central sector of this chief town. At 2 p.m., Israeli soldiers removed seven people on the road to Khrayb, on the outskirts of Kfar Hammam and Kfarchouba (Hasbaya). Four of them were later released after being briefly held in Rachaya el-Foukhar, according to the Civil Defense, which specifies that three citizens remain in Israeli detention. They are three brothers from the village of Halta, identified as Ali, Chawki, and Ahmad Attie, according to our reporter in the South Mountasser Abdallah. The released individuals are Syrian workers.
At least fifteen killed and evacuation orders
At least fifteen people were killed during the day in Israeli airstrikes targeting southern Lebanon: 4 in Kfarsir, 7 in Deir Qanoun el-Nahr, and the remaining victims in Harouf (Nabatiye), Nabatiye, Froun (Bint Jbeil), and Kfar Dajjal, according to our correspondent in the South. In Kfarsir, Israeli warplanes targeted a house, killing four people, including two women, and injuring two others. The killed individuals were identified as Safia Badreddine, Ali Nazih Qamiha, Naziha Qamiha, and Ahmad el-Sablini.
In Harouf, an Israeli drone strike killed at least one person and injured another. The strike, which took place near the municipality headquarters, killed Nasser Nasr, a member of the village council, who was distributing bread to the residents who remained on site at the time of the attack. Another strike using conventional means hit a motorcycle on the road linking Kfar Dajjal to Nabatiye, killing the driver.
Furthermore, the Israeli army ordered the evacuation of 12 villages in southern Lebanon and a village in Western Bekaa around noon. The villages affected are Toura, Bazouriyeh, Tayr Debba, Chehabieh, Bourj el-Chamali (Tyr), Nabatiye el-Tahta, Habboush, Ain Qana, Jebshit, Houmine el-Fawqa (Nabatiye), Kfarhouna (Jezzine), and Lebbaya (Western Bekaa). “You must evacuate your homes immediately and move at least 1,000 meters away from towns and villages,” the statement published on X by Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee said. Around 6 p.m., three Israeli strikes targeted Lebbaya, two by a warplane, and another by a drone, reports our correspondent Sarah Abdallah.
In addition, Israeli aircraft targeted the villages of Majdel Selm (Bint Jbeil), Chehabieh (Tyr), Debbine (Marjeyoun), Kfarremane, and Zawtar al-Sharqiye (Nabatiye). A house was also struck in Mlikh (Jezzine). Another bombing hit a house in Maaraka (Tyr) housing a family, injuring five people, according to our correspondent in the region. Israeli warplanes targeted a residence in Deir Qanoun el-Nahr (Tyr), near the municipal building, killing seven, including four children, and injuring three. According to the Municipal Council President, Ali Qoussair, the targeted house housed a large family, and searches are ongoing to find three individuals still missing under the rubble.
Another Israeli raid targeting a house in the city of Nabatiye killed at least one person. A drone strike also targeted two motorcycles in Hanouniyeh in the Tyre district.
Our correspondent also reports Israeli artillery fire targeting the villages of Zebqine (Tyr), Debbine (Marjeyoun), Yater, and Kafra (Bint Jbeil), as well as the outskirts of Beaufort Castle in Arnoun (Nabatiye).
Meanwhile, an Israeli drone flew at low altitude over the city of Saada on Tuesday morning. A small Israeli aircraft also dropped two grenades on farmers working in a field in Qlayleh, south of Tyre, without causing any casualties. Israeli artillery fire targeted farm workers in the Mansouri plain south of Tyre on Tuesday morning as they harvested watermelons in the region. The area was also hit by phosphorus bombings, while several shells fell near the farmers.
Hezbollah attacks
On the other hand, Hezbollah conducted several operations during the day against Israeli positions and the north of Israel. According to a statement, the Shiite party hit an Israeli communication vehicle at 8 a.m. using an attack drone on Taybeh Square (Marjeyoun). It also claimed to have targeted the Ras Naqoura naval site at 10:55 a.m. with a squadron of drones, hit a gathering of Israeli soldiers and military vehicles in Rchaf with a salvo of rockets, destroyed an Iron Dome air defense system platform at Jal al-Allam with an attack drone at 1:25 p.m., and launched a squadron of drones against a newly established Israeli position in Maroun el-Ras (Bint Jbeil) at 4 p.m. The movement also said it targeted an Israeli military vehicle at the al-Qaouzah junction (Bint Jbeil) at 4:30 p.m. and Israeli soldiers in the village of Ramiye (Bint Jbeil) at 4:45 p.m. It also fired artillery shells at Israeli soldiers stationed in Beit Lif (Bint Jbeil) at 11:30 a.m.
In northern Israel, Hezbollah claimed to have launched a squadron of drones against Israeli vehicles and soldiers west of the village of Arab al-Aramche at 10 a.m. The movement also claimed an attack on the village of Margaliot at 2:30 p.m. and indicated it targeted an Israeli military vehicle in Miskav Am at 2 p.m., claiming a “confirmed impact.” The Israeli army, on the other hand, announced that a drone launched from Lebanon had exploded in northern Israel, while the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported two injuries.
The movement also claimed two attacks on Monday: according to the statements, a “high-quality attack drone” hit an Israeli soldiers’ position in a tent in Debel (Marjeyoun), and a squadron of drones targeted Israeli soldiers in the village of Adais (Marjeyoun).
On Monday night, the Israeli army conducted a series of intense strikes in southern Lebanon. Two people, Ali Fakih and Fady Sleiman, were killed in a strike on a building in Qana (Tyr), while another man, Ali Jamal Fahs, was killed in a strike on a house in Jebchit.
During the night, the Israeli army also struck Zaoutar el-Gharbiyeh, houses in Harouf, Zebqine, Kafra, and Kfar Dounine, and fired artillery at Haris and Sultaniyeh. At 1 a.m., the Israeli army issued an evacuation order for an area in Maachouk, east of Tyre. Civil Defense teams from Bourj al-Chemali were deployed to warn residents and assist with evacuations. Shortly after, warplanes struck the targeted building with two missiles, completely destroying it. No casualties were reported, according to our correspondent.
Human toll
On the humanitarian front, Minister of Health Rakan Nasreddine stated on Tuesday that Israeli forces have killed 116 health workers in Lebanon since March 2, when Hezbollah entered the regional conflict alongside Iran. He also declared that 263 others were injured, in addition to massive destruction of ambulances, health centers, and hospitals. The Ministry of Public Health also condemned the total destruction by the Israeli army of the primary health care center in Maachouk, in the Tyre district, on Monday, May 18. The ministry specified that this center is part of the primary health care network deployed across Lebanon to provide health services to the population. It indicates that this attack brings the number of health centers affected to 31 since the start of the offensive.
Furthermore, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday that Israel has seized about 1,000 square kilometers of territories since October 7, 2023, more than half of which in southern Lebanon, where Israeli forces have reportedly advanced up to ten kilometers to create a buffer zone. Despite the agreement reached on April 16 between the Lebanese government and Israel, Israeli airstrikes have resulted in at least 3,042 deaths and 9,301 injuries since March 2, according to the updated figures from the Ministry of Health, while Hezbollah conducts approximately a dozen attacks per day, mainly targeting Israeli forces in the south.
