Kathmandu— An Israeli strike on Thursday killed a newly married woman and injured at least six other people, including a child, in the southern Lebanese town of Arab Salim within the Nabatieh district. The attack destroyed the woman’s home, according to Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA), which reported she had been married for only 48 hours. Israel claimed it targeted Hezbollah weapon storage facilities in response to an overnight drone attack by the Iran-backed group on its soldiers, escalating tensions along the border.
Escalating Violence
Lebanese security sources reported at least ten Israeli strikes across the Nabatieh area, with artillery shelling also targeting the outskirts of Rashaf in Bint Jbeil district. Al Jazeera’s Zeina Khodr, reporting from Beirut, noted that Israel claims to be hitting infrastructure in retaliation for Hezbollah launching armed drones towards its forces on the Ali al-Taher ridge overnight. The Israeli army seeks to vacate this area, which overlooks the city of Nabatieh and remains contested territory.
Hezbollah Response
According to Israel, Hezbollah launched two explosive drones toward Israeli soldiers operating in the Ali al-Taher ridge, though no casualties were reported on the Israeli side. This attack prompted the latest retaliatory strikes, following a previous wave of attacks on August 15 that Lebanon said killed eleven people, including children.
Framework Agreement Under Strain
The continued strikes have reignited debate in Beirut regarding the framework agreement signed with Israel in June. The agreement envisions a phased Israeli withdrawal contingent upon the deployment of the Lebanese army and disarmament of armed groups, a clear reference to Hezbollah. Despite this agreement, violence has persisted, though there has been some reduction in intensity in recent days.
There is growing concern that the Israeli army may broaden its offensive in southern Lebanon, potentially leading to further escalation of the conflict.
(With inputs from Al Jazeera)
Originally published on abcnews.com.np.
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