Israeli strikes across southern and eastern Lebanon have killed dozens of people after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to intensify military operations against Hezbollah.
Lebanon’s health ministry said at least 31 people, including children, were killed in the latest bombardments.
The Israeli military stated that it targeted more than 100 Hezbollah infrastructure sites and fighters during one of the heaviest nights of attacks since the US-brokered ceasefire that began in mid-April.
The escalation followed Netanyahu’s declaration earlier this week that he had instructed the military to “press the pedal even harder” against Hezbollah.
Sirens were heard across northern Israel early Wednesday after a projectile was launched from Lebanon, according to the Israeli military.
The military said the projectile landed in an open area without causing injuries.
Addressing a security cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Netanyahu said Israel was “deepening our operation in Lebanon”.
“The IDF [Israel Defense Forces] is operating with large forces on the ground and seizing dominant terrain,” he said, adding that they were “fortifying the security zone” to protect communities in northern Israel from Hezbollah attacks.
The ceasefire has faced repeated violations from both Israel and Hezbollah, raising fears over ongoing diplomatic efforts involving the US, Israel and Iran aimed at ending the conflict.
Israeli air and artillery strikes have continued daily, particularly in southern Lebanon, while Hezbollah has launched rockets and drones into northern Israel and targeted Israeli troops stationed in parts of southern Lebanon.
Local media reported that air strikes hit the Bekaa Valley village of Mashghara and Burj al-Shamali in southern Lebanon.
Some attacks also struck near Beaufort Castle, a fortress dating back nearly 900 years and recognised by UNESCO as “one of the best-preserved examples of medieval castles” in the region.
In a video statement on Monday, Netanyahu said Israel would increase both the scale and intensity of strikes against Hezbollah in response to attacks by the Iran-backed group, including the use of fibre-optic drones capable of bypassing Israeli defences.
“We will deal them a crushing blow,” he vowed.
The remarks triggered panic in Beirut’s southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold, as residents rushed to leave the area. Long lines of vehicles filled the streets as families attempted to flee.
Although Beirut itself was not hit, Israeli warplanes launched repeated attacks across Lebanon throughout the night and into Tuesday morning. The BBC reported dozens of strikes in nearly 50 locations.
A man and his wife were killed in a strike on their home in the southern town of Arab Salim on Monday evening, while two others died in the village of Kauthariyet El Rez, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency.
Several homes in Mashghara were destroyed overnight.
Lebanon’s health ministry said rescue teams recovered the bodies of 11 people from the rubble, including one woman and two children, while 15 others were injured.
Among the survivors was a young boy named Mohammed. Videos showed rescue workers digging through debris during the night before pulling the seven-year-old to safety.
“When I woke up, I felt like I couldn’t move, and beside me was just darkness,” Mohammad tells the BBC as he lies in his hospital bed surrounded by family.
“I heard the sound of the guys who were rescuing me. They took a long time to pull me out.”
Mohammad suffered cuts and scratches to his arms and legs, while his head was heavily bandaged.
He had been asleep when the missile struck his home, killing his father and two sisters.
Mashghara has since become largely deserted, with only a handful of vehicles moving through the town.
A municipal official identified as Ahmad guided reporters through areas hit by the overnight strikes, where destroyed homes and shops littered the area.
“I’m not a member of Hezbollah, but everyone in the village stands with the resistance, and the enemy [Israel] is sparing no-one,” Ahmad says.
Moments later, the sound of jets interrupted the interview before another explosion echoed nearby.
Social media footage later showed a massive blast on a road close to where the interview had taken place.
The Israeli military later released aerial footage from Mashghara, claiming it showed attacks on “Hezbollah infrastructure sites where terrorists activity was identified”.
“During the strike the terrorists were eliminated,” it added.
Israel’s military also said it struck more than 90 weapons depots, command centres, observation posts and other Hezbollah facilities in southern Lebanon overnight.
On Tuesday morning, the Israeli military issued new evacuation warnings in parts of Lebanon, accusing Hezbollah of violating the ceasefire agreement that came into effect on 17 April.
Military spokesman Col. Avichay Adraee said Hezbollah’s repeated violations had forced Israeli troops to respond.
Hezbollah later announced that it had targeted three barracks and a military post in northern Israel “in response to the violation of the ceasefire” by Israel.
Netanyahu ordered the intensified strikes after the Israeli military confirmed that a soldier was killed during combat operations in southern Lebanon on Sunday.
The death brought Israel’s military losses in Lebanon since the conflict began on 2 March to 23 soldiers and one civilian contractor.
Lebanon’s health ministry says Israeli strikes during the same period have killed at least 3,185 people.
