Israeli airstrikes hit southern Lebanon, killing at least 11 people, Lebanon’s Health Ministry says

Israeli airstrikes on Saturday hit areas in southern Lebanon and killed at least 11 people, Lebanon’s Health Ministry said, describing the attacks as the deadliest since a fragile truce between Israel and Hezbollah went into effect on June 20. The ministry’s updated count did not immediately provide a breakdown by locality or the identities of the victims, according to The Washington Times.

The strikes occurred days into a tense post-truce period in which both sides have faced scrutiny for violations and retaliatory strikes. The June 20 start of the agreement set a timetable for a reduction in hostilities, but the latest deaths reported by Lebanon indicate that combat-related casualties have continued.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry said the airstrikes caused civilian fatalities, adding to concerns about public safety in communities near the frontier. It did not provide details in the report on whether the strikes targeted specific sites or how officials assessed the presence of any combatants in the areas hit.

The attacks add to a wider humanitarian and security strain along the Israel-Lebanon border, where families have repeatedly been caught in the violence as shelling and airstrikes have disrupted daily life. Lebanese officials and international observers have previously emphasized that any resumption or escalation of strikes increases risks for civilians, including limited access to medical care during active fighting.

The Washington Times report framed the Saturday toll as the deadliest since the truce began on June 20, indicating that the ceasefire has been difficult to sustain without incidents. The article did not cite an Israeli statement within its account, and it did not immediately attribute the attacks to a specific military objective in the same report.

What happens next will depend on further official assessments and responses from both sides. Lebanese authorities are expected to continue providing updates on casualties and damage, while Israeli officials typically address strikes through military communications or broader security statements if they believe attacks were aimed at specific threats. The durability of the June 20 truce, already described as precarious, may be tested by how quickly and transparently both sides handle accountability for civilian harm.