BINT JBEIL, Lebanon — An Israeli airstrike on Sunday killed five people, including three children, in southern Lebanon, the Lebanese government reported, as tensions between Israel and Hezbollah persist despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire. Claims that several of the victims were U.S. citizens are being disputed by the U.S. State Department.
Details of the Strike
Israel’s military said it had targeted a Hezbollah operator in Bint Jbeil, noting that “several uninvolved civilians” were also killed. “The IDF regrets any harm to uninvolved individuals and operates to minimize harm as much as possible. The incident is under review,” the military stated.
State-run Lebanese media reported that a drone fired two missiles at a motorcycle and a Mercedes car. The motorcyclist, allegedly the strike’s primary target, and four others in the car died. The mother of the children was injured and remains in critical condition.
U.S. Citizenship Dispute
Lebanon’s Speaker of Parliament, Nabih Berri, claimed the father and three children killed were U.S. citizens. However, a U.S. State Department spokesperson disputed this, stating, “While the situation is fluid, so far, indications are that the five killed were not U.S. citizens. In fact, one had an unused immigrant visa petition in the past.”
Lebanese Leaders Condemn the Attack
President Joseph Aoun, attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York, denounced the attack as a “massacre” and called on the international community to pressure Israel to respect the ceasefire agreement.
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam echoed the sentiment, calling it a “blatant crime against civilians” and a “message of intimidation” toward residents returning to southern Lebanon. Labour Minister Mohamad Haidar added that Israel is deliberately targeting the Lebanese population that returned after last year’s conflict.
Humanitarian Concerns
UNICEF condemned the deaths of the three children, stating on X, “Attacks on children are unconscionable. No child should ever pay the price of conflict with their life. Hostilities must cease immediately to ensure the protection of every child.”
Israel has frequently targeted Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon, claiming to prevent the Iran-backed group from rebuilding military capabilities. Hezbollah, meanwhile, insists it will retain its weapons as long as Israeli strikes continue.
International Pressure
The U.S. and Saudi Arabia, along with other Hezbollah opponents, have urged the group to disarm. Lebanon’s army presented a plan earlier this month to implement disarmament, but Hezbollah remains adamant about maintaining its arsenal.
