Israeli drone strikes in southern Lebanon on Tuesday killed eight people, including a dentist and his two children, a day after US President Donald Trump announced an agreement to de-escalate hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. The strikes hit a car near Marjayoun, killing James Karam, his daughter, and son, according to Lebanon's National News Agency. Additional drone attacks in Jibchit killed two Syrian nursery workers, while strikes in Toul and Harouf claimed three more lives.
The Lebanese army reported that two soldiers were lightly wounded in a separate drone attack. Hezbollah responded by firing anti-tank missiles at Israeli troops advancing into the village of Hadatha, about 7 kilometres from the border. Sirens sounded in northern Israel, but no injuries were reported. The violence comes despite a US-brokered ceasefire in April, which has been repeatedly violated.
Trump stated on Monday that after speaking with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and communicating with Hezbollah through mediators, “there will be no Troops going to Beirut.” However, Israeli forces recently made their deepest incursion into Lebanon in 26 years. The latest exchanges occur as a second round of Israel-Lebanon talks is scheduled in Washington, aiming for a full ceasefire.
The fighting has killed 3,433 people in Lebanon and displaced over 1 million. On the Israeli side, at least 27 soldiers and a defence contractor have died, along with two civilians. Hezbollah's use of fibre-optic drones has proven deadly for Israeli forces, who are struggling to counter the threat.
