Bloodbath: 10 Syrians Killed in Israeli Strike; Hezbollah Hits Back

Lebanon’s health ministry reported that an Israeli air strike in southern Lebanon overnight resulted in the deaths of 10 Syrians, following the Israeli military’s targeting of what it described as “weapons stores” belonging to Hezbollah.

This strike in the Nabatieh region marks one of the deadliest incidents in southern Lebanon since the escalation of conflict between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, which began after the outbreak of war in Gaza in October. The ongoing clashes across the border have drawn increasing concern, with international mediators working to negotiate a Gaza ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, a move seen as crucial in preventing a broader regional conflict, with Lebanon potentially becoming a frontline.

The casualties from the strike included “a woman and her two children,” with five others injured, most of whom were also Syrian, according to a statement from Lebanon’s health ministry. The official Lebanese National News Agency confirmed that the victims were Syrian refugees and workers.

Israel’s military confirmed on its Telegram channel that the air force had targeted a Hezbollah weapons storage facility in the Nabatieh area, approximately 12 kilometers from the Israeli border.

Mohammad Shoaib, who operates a slaughterhouse in Wadi al-Kfour, stated that the strike hit an “industrial and civilian area,” home to factories for bricks, metal, aluminum, and a dairy farm. Hussein Shahoud, the uncle of three of the deceased, insisted that the victims were factory workers residing in their accommodations when they were struck, denying the presence of any weapons at the site.

In response, Hezbollah fired a barrage of rockets at the Israeli settlement of Ayelet HaShahar, located near Safad in northern Israel, stating that all 10 victims in Lebanon were civilians. Typically, Hezbollah issues official death notices when its members are killed, but in this case, the group emphasized the civilian nature of the casualties.

The Israeli army reported that 55 projectiles were fired from Lebanon, with some landing in open areas. While there were no reported injuries, the strikes triggered multiple fires. Earlier on Saturday, two Israeli soldiers were injured, one seriously, by an attack from Lebanon near Misgav Am.

Following the air strikes, Israeli artillery targeted other locations near the southern Lebanese border. This was part of a broader series of attacks that began on Friday, when Israeli air strikes hit “Hezbollah military structures” near Hanine and Maroun el-Ras in southern Lebanon.

The recent escalation follows the killings of Fouad Shukur, a senior Hezbollah operations leader in southern Lebanon, and Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, in late July. These deaths prompted vows of retaliation from Hezbollah, Iran, and other groups allied with Tehran, who blamed Israel for the attacks. Israel claimed responsibility for Shukur’s death in a strike on southern Beirut but has not commented on Haniyeh’s killing in Tehran.

As tensions continue to rise, Western and Arab diplomats are engaged in shuttle diplomacy in an effort to prevent a wider conflict. On Thursday, mediators renewed efforts to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, with talks held in Qatar and set to resume in Cairo “before the end of next week,” according to a joint statement from Egyptian, Qatari, and U.S. mediators.

French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne emphasized the importance of a ceasefire in Gaza during his visit to Beirut on Thursday, stating that such a move is essential for regional peace, including in Lebanon. The cross-border violence has so far claimed 580 lives in Lebanon, primarily Hezbollah fighters, but also at least 128 civilians, according to an AFP tally. On the Israeli side, including the annexed Golan Heights, 22 soldiers and 26 civilians have been killed.

Hezbollah and Israel last engaged in a full-scale war in 2006.