Hezbollah Vows Retaliation After 10 Civilians Killed in Lebanon

The number of civilians killed in Lebanon due to two Israeli airstrikes has increased to 10, as reported by Lebanese state media on Thursday. This makes Wednesday the day with the highest civilian casualties in the ongoing conflict that has lasted for over four months, involving daily exchanges across the border.

The airstrikes targeted the city of Nabatiyeh and a southern village, coming after missiles from Lebanon resulted in the death of an Israeli soldier. The attack in Nabatiyeh caused part of a building to collapse, resulting in the death of seven family members, including a child. A boy, previously thought to be missing, was later found alive under the debris. Earlier reports had stated four casualties.

In the village of Souaneh, a mother and her two young children were killed. The civilian casualties in Lebanon from this day’s events included six women and three children, alongside the death of three Hezbollah fighters.

The missile attack from Lebanon that occurred earlier on Wednesday struck Safed in northern Israel, leading to the death of a female Israeli soldier and injuring eight others.

This rise in fatalities signifies a significant escalation in the conflict that has seen daily cross-border exchanges since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza on October 7, which was initiated by a surprise attack from the Palestinian militant group Hamas, an ally of Hezbollah.

As a mark of protest against the airstrikes, Lebanese government institutions, schools, and the Lebanese University declared a closure on Thursday.