Lebanon state media says Israeli strikes kill nine in south

Lebanese state media reported Wednesday that Israeli strikes killed at least nine people across southern Lebanon, including in a town and a Palestinian refugee camp near Sidon.

According to Lebanon’s National News Agency, citing the health ministry, four people were killed in a strike on the town of Adloun, while two others died in an attack on an apartment in the Mieh Mieh refugee camp that also left four wounded. Earlier, another strike on the town of Habboush killed three people and injured 18.

Israel has intensified its campaign against Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran. The escalation follows rocket attacks by Hezbollah on March 2 that drew Lebanon deeper into a widening regional conflict triggered by US-Israeli strikes on Iran.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military on the reported strikes. However, earlier it warned of an imminent attack on Beirut’s southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold that has been repeatedly targeted.

Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee said forces were targeting Hezbollah’s “military infrastructure” across the area with increasing intensity, urging residents to evacuate immediately for their safety.

Israel, which occupied parts of southern Lebanon until 2000, has said it aims to establish control over the border zone up to the Litani River, about 30 km from the frontier.

Lebanese authorities say the Israeli campaign has killed at least 1,072 people and displaced more than one million. In northern Israel, ongoing rocket fire has also taken a toll, with a woman killed on Tuesday after an attack from Lebanon, according to Israeli officials.