ibn sultan
Beirut/Jerusalem, June 19: At least 18 people were killed and 33 others injured in a series of Israeli airstrikes on residential areas in southern Lebanon early Friday, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry.
The ministry said ongoing Israeli airstrikes hampered rescue operations and prevented the evacuation of victims in some affected areas, warning that the casualty toll could rise further.
Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported that the strikes heavily targeted the Nabatieh district, including the towns of Harouf, Sharqieh, Kfar Sir, Kfar Remmen, and Kfar Tebnit. Several homes were destroyed, while many people were reported missing under the rubble.
The bombardment, described as one of the heaviest in recent months, began shortly after midnight with artillery shelling followed by multiple waves of airstrikes. Israeli warplanes targeted residential neighborhoods, university areas, and surrounding villages, causing widespread destruction and civilian casualties.
According to preliminary reports, eight people were killed in strikes on the Kfar Remmen-Nabatieh area, while another four died when a house was destroyed between the towns of Sharqiyeh and Doueir. Additional attacks in Kfar Sir, Qsaybeh, Jebchit, Adchit, and nearby areas caused further casualties and damage.
The attacks came despite a recent Iran-US agreement aimed at reducing regional tensions and preventing further escalation along the Lebanese-Israeli border.
