Israeli strikes kill at least 18 amid intense fighting in southern Lebanon; Israel’s Ben-Gvir says all of Lebanon ‘must burn’

Intense hostilities have escalated in southern Lebanon, with Israeli airstrikes reportedly killing at least 18 people and wounding 33 in multiple towns and villages. These strikes, described by Lebanese health officials as some of the deadliest since a recent US-Iran agreement aimed at ending broader regional conflict, targeted Hezbollah positions following alleged ceasefire violations by the Iran-backed group.

The escalating conflict also saw Israel report the deaths of four of its soldiers, including a battalion commander, during combat operations in southern Lebanon. This marks the first combat fatalities for Israel since the US-Iran deal was formalized. In response, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir declared that "all of Lebanon must burn" and asserted that for "every tear of an Israeli mother, a thousand Lebanese mothers must weep," advocating for an unyielding response.