Latest on Israel-Hezbollah Border Clashes

Thursday witnessed Israeli aircraft launching multiple strikes on Wadi Slouqi in southern Lebanon, following an increase in civilian casualties from Wednesday’s bombings to 10 deaths. A devastating airstrike in Nabatiyeh resulted in the death of seven family members, encompassing both women and children. Additionally, in the village of Souaneh, an attack claimed the lives of a woman and her two children.

In response, Hezbollah promised retaliation, though it did not explicitly accept responsibility for a prior assault on Safed, a northern Israeli town, which resulted in the death of an Israeli female soldier and injuries to eight others. The lack of a direct claim for the rocket launch, coupled with the significant spike in civilian casualties in Lebanon—the highest for a single day since the onset of hostilities in October—has heightened concerns over a potential escalation between Israel and Hezbollah.

To date, the conflict has led to the deaths of at least 253 individuals in Lebanon, predominantly Hezbollah combatants, but also 37 civilians. Meanwhile, Israel has reported the loss of 10 soldiers and six civilians.