Israeli drone strikes targeting vehicles across Lebanon killed at least 12 people on Wednesday, including a woman and her two children, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. The attacks came amid escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah despite an existing ceasefire agreement, further raising concerns about instability along the Lebanon-Israel border.
The Lebanese Health Ministry said seven vehicles were struck in separate drone attacks, with three of the strikes taking place along the main highway south of Beirut connecting the capital to the port city of Sidon. Another strike hit the town of Saadiyat near the busy coastal freeway. Authorities said the attacks on those areas alone killed eight people, including the mother and her two children. A fourth strike near the northern entrance of Sidon later in the day killed one person and injured another.
Additional drone strikes targeting vehicles deeper inside southern Lebanon killed three more people, the ministry said. An Associated Press photographer at the scene reported seeing the bodies of victims near the coastal towns of Barja and Jiyeh. The Israeli military stated that it had targeted Hezbollah infrastructure in several parts of southern Lebanon after issuing evacuation warnings to residents of six villages earlier in the day.
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The latest violence unfolded as Lebanon and Israel prepare for another round of direct talks in Washington, where the United States is attempting to broker progress between the two sides. The neighbouring countries have technically remained in a state of war since the establishment of Israel in 1948, and recent hostilities have further strained already fragile relations. The renewed clashes have raised fears that diplomatic efforts could be undermined by the continuing violence on the ground.
The United Nations also expressed concern over the growing hostilities, particularly after accusing Hezbollah of carrying out drone strikes near positions held by the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). According to UNIFIL, a suspected Hezbollah drone exploded inside its headquarters in the coastal town of Naqoura earlier this week, damaging buildings though causing no injuries. UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged both sides to respect the ceasefire agreement and halt further attacks.
The latest Israel-Hezbollah conflict began on March 2 after Hezbollah launched rockets into northern Israel following joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran. Since then, cross-border attacks between Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters have intensified despite international efforts to restore calm. Lebanese health authorities said the ongoing conflict has so far killed 2,896 people and wounded more than 8,800 others, highlighting the growing humanitarian toll of the escalating violence.
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