Four people have been killed in Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry, in a fresh escalation between Israel and Hezbollah despite a fragile ceasefire.
The ministry said two people were killed in Nabatieh el-Fawqa and two women were killed in the neighbouring town of Arab Salim.
A further 20 people were wounded in the strikes in Arab Salim, Nabatieh and Kfar Rouman, including several women and three children, according to the ministry.
Israel says strikes followed Hezbollah drone attack
The Israeli military said it carried out the strikes after Hezbollah launched two unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) towards its troops in southern Lebanon.
The attack caused no injuries, the military said, describing it as a “blatant violation of the ceasefire”.
Earlier, the Israeli military had issued its first evacuation order in several weeks, calling on residents to leave areas “near a facility belonging” to Hezbollah in Arab Salim.
No warning was issued for the other areas subsequently hit by Israeli strikes.
Lebanon's National News Agency, ANI, reported that following the Israeli warning, “enemy fighter jets struck another house, destroying it” and killing the two women.
It later reported that the Israeli military “carried out a strike on the house” referred to in the evacuation order.
Strikes hit former hospital site
According to local media reports, an Israeli strike in Nabatieh el-Fawqa destroyed the old Gandour Hospital, although the facility has not been in use for years.
Lebanon said in July that an Israeli strike had killed two people near the site.
The latest deaths come amid continuing tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border.
Sporadic fighting continues despite ceasefire
Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the wider conflict by carrying out strikes against Israel from early March in support of Tehran, prompting Israeli retaliation that has killed nearly 4,300 people, according to Lebanese authorities.
Fighting in Lebanon declined from June following a US-Iran protocol alongside a framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel.
However, Israel has continued sporadic military operations in southern Lebanon, where its forces still hold a 10-kilometre-wide strip of territory along the border.
On Friday evening, Israeli strikes killed four people in southern and eastern Lebanon. Israel said it had targeted “terrorists and Hezbollah infrastructure”, including weapons storage facilities.
On Thursday, Israel announced that it had taken control of Ali Taher Hill, a strategic position for Hezbollah in the Nabatieh area.
Further talks between Lebanese and Israeli officials are expected to take place this month, although no specific date has been announced.
