Archive · 16 Aug 2026
Israeli Strikes on Southern Lebanon Kill 11 After Hezbollah Attacks
There is a big fight between a group called Hezbollah and the country of Israel.
On Saturday, Israel dropped bombs on two towns in southern Lebanon called Ansar and Deir ez-Zahrani.
At least 11 people died, including three children, and many more were hurt.
Israel says it attacked because Hezbollah hurt three Israeli soldiers first.
In June, Israel and Lebanon promised to stop fighting with help from the United States, but Israel and the US ambassador say Hezbollah broke that promise.
Israel says the people who died were family members of a Hezbollah commander and that Hezbollah kept civilians near its fighters.
Lebanon's president, Joseph Aoun, said Israel's bombs sent a 'clear message' and strongly criticized them.
Earlier, the Israeli military said it killed a Hamas commander in Gaza who they say was a threat.
The fighting in this region is still going on.
At least 11 people were killed and 19 injured in Israeli strikes on Ansar and Deir ez-Zahrani in southern Lebanon's Nabatieh district on Saturday, according to Al Jazeera.
Israel said the strikes followed Hezbollah attacks that injured three IDF soldiers, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Ambassador Mike Huckabee accused Hezbollah of violating the June US-mediated ceasefire.
Lebanon's Health Ministry and state media reported seven killed, including three children, and two wounded in Ansar, and four killed in Deir ez-Zahrani.
Israel acknowledged civilians were among the casualties and accused Hezbollah of deliberately placing civilians in a military compound, saying the women and children killed were family members of a targeted senior Hezbollah commander.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun criticized the strikes as sending a 'clear message' ahead of US-sponsored negotiations; separately, the IDF said it killed Hamas company commander Hudhaifa Khaled Suleiman Qawari in southern Gaza.
The IDF said its operations aim to target Hezbollah's military infrastructure and prevent attacks on Israeli forces amid heightened Israel-Lebanon border tensions.
The IDF said Qawari, a company commander in Hamas's Khan Younis Brigade, was killed in a Thursday strike using precision-guided munitions, alleging he trained fighters, transferred weapons, and orchestrated attacks.
- Who
- The Israel Defence Forces, Hezbollah, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, and civilians in southern Lebanon; separately, Hamas company commander Hudhaifa Khaled Suleiman Qawari was killed in Gaza.
- What
- Israeli air strikes on Ansar and Deir ez-Zahrani in southern Lebanon killed at least 11 people and wounded 19, in response to Hezbollah attacks that injured three IDF soldiers.
- When
- Saturday (local time) in the early morning; the US-mediated ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon was reached in June; the separate Gaza strike occurred on Thursday.
- Where
- Ansar (north of Tyre) and Deir ez-Zahrani (north of Nabatieh) in the Nabatieh district of southern Lebanon; a separate IDF strike targeted the southern Gaza Strip.
- Why
- Israel said the strikes were aimed at Hezbollah's military infrastructure and followed Hezbollah attacks that injured its soldiers; Netanyahu and Huckabee accused Hezbollah of violating the ceasefire, while Aoun criticized Israel for sending a 'clear message' before negotiations.
Israel and US officials
Lebanese leadership
Ceasefire responsibility
Israel and US officials
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Ambassador Mike Huckabee accused Hezbollah of violating the June ceasefire by attacking Israeli soldiers and severely wounding three of them.
Lebanese leadership
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun strongly criticized the strikes and accused Israel of sending a 'clear message' ahead of the next round of US-sponsored negotiations between Lebanon and Israel.
Civilian casualties
Israel and US officials
Israel acknowledged civilians were among the casualties but accused Hezbollah of deliberately putting civilians in a military compound, saying the women and children killed were family members of a targeted senior Hezbollah commander.
Lebanese leadership
Lebanon's Health Ministry and state media reported civilians among the dead, including three children, and President Aoun strongly criticized the strikes, which Lebanon said sent a 'clear message' before negotiations.
- Deaths
- At least 11 killed, including 3 children
- Injuries
- 19 per Al Jazeera; Lebanon's Health Ministry reported 2 wounded in Ansar and several wounded in Deir ez-Zahrani
- Targeted locations
- Ansar and Deir ez-Zahrani in the Nabatieh district, southern Lebanon
- Ansar strike
- 7 killed (including 3 children), 2 wounded
- Deir ez-Zahrani strike
- 4 killed, 17 injured (per Al Jazeera)
- IDF casualties
- 3 soldiers injured in earlier Hezbollah attacks
- Ceasefire
- US-mediated ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon reached in June
- Separate Gaza strike
- Hamas Khan Younis Brigade commander Hudhaifa Khaled Suleiman Qawari killed in a Thursday strike
