Israeli air strikes kill 22 in southern Lebanon, including eight children

Twenty-two people, among them eight children, have been killed in Israeli air strikes in southern Lebanon, according to the country’s health ministry, as hostilities between Israel and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah persist despite a ceasefire.

Eight of the victims were killed when drones struck three vehicles along the coastal highway in the Barja, Jiyeh, and Saadiyat areas, roughly 20 km (12 miles) from the capital. Four others died in separate strikes targeting cars further south, including in the city of Sidon and the towns of Maaliyeh, Chaaitiyeh, and Naqoura, BBC reports.

In a subsequent update, officials reported that Israeli strikes also killed six people in the village of Arab Salim, three in Roumine, and one in Harouf.

The Israeli military said it had targeted Hezbollah weapons storage sites and rocket launchers in multiple locations on Wednesday, May 13.

It also issued evacuation warnings to residents of nine towns and villages in southern Lebanon, stating that it planned to carry out intensified operations against Hezbollah positions in those areas.

According to the Lebanese health ministry, more than 400 people have been killed across the country since the ceasefire was announced by US President Donald Trump nearly a month ago.

Over the same period, more than 10,600 homes have been damaged or destroyed, based on data from the country’s National Council for Scientific Research.

By Jeyhun Aghazada