Israeli strikes on coastal highway kill 8 people including 2 children
Israeli strikes targeted Wednesday three cars on a major highway linking Beirut to southern Lebanon, killing 8 people, including 2 children, ahead of talks between Lebanon and Israel in Washington.
The attacks took place in Jiyeh, Barja and Saadiyat. On Saturday, two similar strikes targeted two cars on the same highway, despite a truce reached on April 16.
In a statement, the ministry said "the three raids carried out by the Israeli enemy on the Saida-South coastal highway -- specifically in Barja, Jiyeh and Saadiyat -- resulted in 8 martyrs, including two children".
Earlier on Wednesday, the Israeli army ordered the resident of six southern towns -- Maashouq, Burj Shmali, Hallousieh, Debaal and Abbasiyeh -- to evacuate ahead of imminent strikes.
In south Lebanon, Israeli strikes also targeted cars on the Naqoura, Shaatiyeh and Maaliyeh roads. Other strikes targeted Mansouri, Baraashit-Shaqra, Majdalzoun, Kounine, Arabsalim, Burj Shmali, Yanouh, Siddiqine, Abbasiyeh-Deirqanoun, Debaal and Hallousieh.
The Israeli military said it targeted "Hezbollah terror infrastructure in several areas in southern Lebanon," hours after issuing the evacuation warnings.
Hezbollah claimed attacks, including with suicide drones, on Israeli troops and equipment in Wadi al-Ouyoun, Sarbine, Deir Seryan, Bint Jbeil, al-Qawzah, Blat and Rshaf in south Lebanon.
Israeli media said Hezbollah launched a massive drone swarm attack on north Israel Tuesday, in what a security source described as the most significant drone attack on Israel to date.
Israeli strikes killed 13 people in southern Lebanon on Tuesday, including a soldier, a child and two rescue workers, the health ministry said.
"A strike on the city of Nabatieh left five dead, including two Civil Defense rescuers," the ministry said, while another strike in around Jebchit left four dead "including a soldier and a Syrian national" and a third strike in Bint Jbeil killed "four civilians, including a child and a woman".