BEIRUT, Aug. 17 — An Israeli airstrike on a residential area in Nabatieh, southern Lebanon, has resulted in the deaths of at least ten people, including two children, and left five others injured, according to Lebanese state news agency NNA. The casualties, all Syrian nationals, were reportedly residing in a factory and adjacent building that were struck during the attack.
The Israeli military has asserted that the target was a Hezbollah weapons depot. However, local officials and eyewitnesses suggest the site was a factory housing Syrian refugees and their families. The factory, located in Toul, was reportedly used for processing steel spare parts, not for storing weaponry.
This attack comes amid heightened tensions in the region, which have escalated following recent violence between Hezbollah and Israeli forces. The violence intensified after a rocket attack attributed to Hezbollah killed twelve children in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. In retaliation, Israel targeted and killed a senior Hezbollah commander, Fuad Shukr, in Beirut, and reportedly assassinated Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, in Tehran. Both groups have vowed to retaliate against Israel.
The conflict has been further exacerbated by ongoing ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas, which paused on Friday. These talks, mediated by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, aim to address the broader Gaza conflict and prevent further regional escalation.
Following the Nabatieh airstrike, Hezbollah launched a counterattack with a barrage of rockets aimed at Ayelet Hashachar, a kibbutz in northern Israel. The Israeli military reported that around 55 rockets were fired from Lebanon, igniting several fires, though no immediate casualties have been reported from this attack.
The strike on Nabatieh marks one of the deadliest incidents in southern Lebanon since the start of the Gaza conflict in October 2023, which has seen ongoing exchanges of fire between Israel and Hezbollah. The Lebanese Ministry of Health confirmed that the deceased included a woman and her two children, while two of the injured are in critical condition.
In addition to the main airstrike, Israeli drones reportedly targeted a motorcycle in the Qadmous area, resulting in one injury and one death, according to Lebanese sources.
As the region remains on edge, the Biden administration continues its diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, hoping to stabilize the situation and reduce the risk of a broader regional war. The international community, including the United States and regional mediators, is closely monitoring the situation as tensions remain high and the potential for further conflict looms.
