**40 Israeli Airstrikes on the South: Drone Crashes in Northern Lebanon for the First Time**
Following Hezbollah’s attack on northern Israel and the Golan Heights, Israel responded by launching airstrikes on southern Lebanon, resulting in casualties and injuries. The Israeli air force conducted a wide barrage of approximately 40 airstrikes in the Nabatieh Governorate, primarily targeting “forested and open areas,” according to the official National News Agency.
The agency also reported that the Israeli military targeted extensive areas in southern Lebanon with airstrikes and artillery fire, some of which were relatively far from the border.
**Northern Lebanon Targeted for the First Time**
In a first-time incident, an Israeli drone crashed in Akkar, northern Lebanon, and was dismantled by the Lebanese army. Additionally, an Israeli drone struck a vehicle in the town of Khiam, resulting in the death of a member of the Amal Movement, according to sources from Al Arabiya/Al Hadath. Simultaneously, Israeli warplanes and drones heavily flew over villages and towns in the western sector and above the city of Sidon.
**Three People Killed**
The Ministry of Health announced in a statement that at least three people were killed, and two others were injured on Sunday due to Israeli airstrikes on towns in southern Lebanon. The Ministry reported one fatality as a result of an Israeli airstrike on a “vehicle in the town of Khiam.”
In contrast, Amal Movement, an ally of Hezbollah, mourned one of its members from the town of Khiam. In a separate statement, the Ministry reported that Israeli airstrikes on the town of Tayri resulted in the deaths of two people. Two others were injured, according to the Ministry—one “Lebanese with minor injuries” and another “Syrian with moderate injuries” due to strikes in other areas.
These airstrikes came shortly after the Israeli military announced strikes in southern Lebanon to prevent a “major attack” by the Hezbollah group, which is supported by Tehran.
**Widespread Attack**
On Sunday morning, Hezbollah announced a large-scale attack involving the launch of numerous drones and more than “320 Katyusha rockets” targeting positions and barracks in northern Israel. This was part of its response to the killing of its operations commander in southern Lebanon, Fouad Shukr, in an Israeli airstrike on July 30.
Hezbollah and Israel have been exchanging daily fire since the war began between Israel and the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in the Gaza Strip on October 7. However, tensions have escalated in recent weeks following the killing of Shukr in southern Beirut. Shukr was killed hours before the assassination of Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in a strike attributed to Israel. Tehran and Hezbollah vowed to retaliate for their deaths.
Since the escalation between Hezbollah and Israel began, 605 people have been killed in Lebanon, including 391 Hezbollah fighters and 131 civilians. On the Israeli side, authorities reported the deaths of 23 soldiers and 26 civilians, including 12 in the occupied Golan Heights.
—by/radwa sherif ✏️✏️📚