Israeli Airstrikes Kill 13 In South Lebanon, Say Sources

Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon killed at least 13 people on Wednesday, according to Lebanese security sources. Nine fatalities occurred in the village of Dayr Debba, located 8 km east of Tyre, while footage from Reuters showed vehicles burning in Sidon after an Israeli strike. The violence marks an escalation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which has been active for over three months following the U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran. Earlier this week, Israel struck Hezbollah-controlled areas in Beirut’s southern suburbs, prompting Iran to launch a missile attack on Israel, which Israel then countered before both sides paused hostilities. Since March 2, Lebanon’s health ministry reports that 3,700 people have been killed in Israeli attacks, including 730 women, children, or medics. Over 1.2 million people have been displaced across Lebanon. Hezbollah entered the conflict on March 2, citing retaliation for the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader. The Israeli military has recorded 28 soldier deaths in Lebanon since then, while four civilians have died in Hezbollah attacks. A Lebanese soldier also died on Wednesday from wounds sustained in an Israeli airstrike on March 17, according to the Lebanese military.