Israeli Strikes on Southern Lebanon Kill 12, Raising Fears of Wider Conflict

Israeli strikes on the southern Lebanese town of Kfar Rumman killed at least 12 people, including two children, early Monday, according to Lebanon’s health ministry, marking one of the deadliest days of bombardment in recent weeks.

The Israeli military said it targeted individuals seen transferring weapons in the area, though a woman who lost several family members in the strike said the attack hit a residential building just as children were preparing for school. Rescue teams worked through the morning using heavy machinery to recover bodies from the rubble, while an eight-year-old boy who lost his grandparents and mother remained hospitalized as searches continued for his father.

Separate Strike Kills Medic

A drone strike on a civilian vehicle in the same town killed one medic and wounded two others, the health ministry reported. No evacuation warning was issued ahead of the strikes. Israel’s military stated it takes precautions to limit harm to uninvolved individuals and said it was reviewing reports of civilian casualties.

Tensions Escalate Despite Ceasefire

The violence comes amid growing concern that Israel may be preparing for a broader military campaign in Lebanon, despite a ceasefire reached in June intended to halt fighting with Hezbollah. Israeli forces said Hezbollah launched drones overnight toward troops stationed near a strategic ridge in southeastern Lebanon, an area Israel claims to have cleared of Hezbollah fighters last week. Lebanese security officials say they expect continued escalation in the region in the coming weeks, with additional strikes killing 11 people in nearby towns on Sunday and four more on Friday.

Mounting Death Toll Since March

Since Hezbollah’s rocket attacks on Israel in March, following the start of joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, Israeli strikes on Lebanon have killed more than 4,300 people, including over 250 children and nearly 400 women, according to health ministry figures. While the June ceasefire initially reduced violence significantly, Israeli forces have continued operations both within a self-declared security zone and beyond it, frequently without prior warning to residents.