Israel killed four people in southern Lebanon

An Israeli strike in southern Lebanon has killed four people, including the principal of a school, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health. The attack occurred on Monday when an Israeli military strike hit a vehicle near Nabatieh, a town in southern Lebanon. This incident marks one of the deadliest attacks in recent weeks and comes amid a fragile ceasefire agreement that was meant to reduce violence in the region. The Israeli military stated that the strike targeted a vehicle carrying four individuals who were approaching a so-called “security zone” along the border between Israel and Lebanon. According to the Israeli army, these individuals posed a threat to its forces. The victims have been identified as Esperanza Gandur, the head of the school, her mother, a housekeeper, and a foreign worker. Local sources and the Lebanese state news agency reported that Gandur had been inspecting repairs on her home in Nabatieh, which had sustained damage during the conflict, before returning when the vehicle was struck. At the Nadjdi hospital in Nabatieh, a healthcare worker told Reuters via telephone that staff heard the explosion before the victims arrived. “We heard the explosion and saw smoke rising,” the worker said. The attack took place in an area local residents considered relatively safe from such incidents. The worker also noted that Israeli drone strikes continued after the ceasefire but not as frequently as before. The establishment of a security zone by Israel, stretching about ten kilometers into southern Lebanon along the border, has been a point of contention. Israel claims this zone is necessary to protect northern communities from Hezbollah attacks. Despite the ceasefire, Israeli forces remain stationed in parts of this zone, a move Lebanon views as an infringement on its sovereignty. For residents of Nabatieh and surrounding areas, the attack has shattered the limited sense of safety that had returned following the ceasefire. Ali Safa, a resident of the area, described how his family has been constantly on the move since the ceasefire was declared at the end of June. “This attack has brought back fear,” he said. “Some of the few businesses that reopened have closed again due to daily attacks, and some families have left. There’s always a small hope that you can at least be back in your home, but every day you wonder if you’ll have to leave again.” Lebanon has suffered the most severe consequences of the American-Israeli war against Iran since Hezbollah opened a front on February 2nd in support of Tehran, leading to an Israeli offensive and ground incursion into southern Lebanon. The ceasefire was brokered by the United States and Qatar with the help of Iran, which insists on a ceasefire in Lebanon as part of negotiations to resolve the broader regional conflict. In response to pressure from Washington, Israel has reduced its attacks in Lebanon. According to data from the Lebanese Ministry of Health, more than 4,300 people have died in Israeli attacks in Lebanon, without distinguishing between civilians and combatants. On the Israeli side, at least 36 people have died in the fighting, including 32 soldiers and four civilians, according to Israeli authorities. The ongoing conflict highlights the complex dynamics between Israel and Lebanon, with both sides accusing each other of violating agreements and escalating tensions. As the situation remains volatile, the international community continues to monitor developments closely, hoping for a lasting resolution to the crisis.