Israel Bombards Several Towns in Southern Lebanon as Border Violence Escalates

Israel launched a fresh wave of airstrikes and artillery attacks across southern Lebanon on Sunday, hitting several towns in the Nabatieh region and killing at least four people as violence intensified along the increasingly volatile Israel-Lebanon border.

The strikes targeted communities including Arab Salim, Haris, Tallousa and areas around Nabatieh, with explosions reported throughout the morning. Lebanon’s Health Ministry said four people, including two women, were killed, while more than 20 others were injured, among them women and children. Emergency crews continued rescue operations as residents fled damaged neighbourhoods.

The Israeli military said the bombardment was carried out in response to an explosive drone launched by Hezbollah toward Israeli troops operating near the border. According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the strikes were aimed at Hezbollah military infrastructure and positions inside what Israel describes as a security zone extending into southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah condemned the attacks, accusing Israel of violating the ceasefire framework brokered earlier this year. The group said Israel’s continued military operations inside Lebanese territory were escalating tensions and undermining ongoing diplomatic efforts, although it did not immediately provide independent evidence regarding all aspects of the confrontation.

One of the strikes reportedly hit near a medical facility in southern Lebanon, causing extensive damage to surrounding structures. Local authorities said residential homes and civilian infrastructure were also affected, while displaced families sought shelter in neighbouring communities as fears of further attacks spread across the region.

The renewed violence comes despite a US-mediated ceasefire intended to reduce hostilities following months of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. While large-scale fighting has subsided compared with earlier phases of the war, sporadic drone attacks, airstrikes and artillery exchanges have continued almost daily, particularly around contested areas near the border.

Diplomatic negotiations aimed at stabilizing southern Lebanon have made little visible progress, with disagreements persisting over Israeli troop positions, Hezbollah’s military presence and the future role of the Lebanese army in border security. The continued exchanges have left thousands of civilians living under the constant threat of renewed conflict.

The latest bombardment highlights how fragile the ceasefire has become. As each retaliatory strike narrows the space for diplomacy, the risk of a broader regional confrontation grows, placing civilian communities on both sides of the border at the centre of an increasingly dangerous cycle of escalation.