Israel vows to strike Hezbollah after Lebanon attack kills 11

Israel has vowed to hit Hezbollah again if threatened, after its strikes in southern Lebanon on Saturday killed 11 people, including three children. The Israeli military said the strikes targeted a senior Hezbollah commander it identified as Abu Hassan Alaa of the Badr unit, and earlier named another killed commander, Ali Samir Al-Haj Hassan, of the elite Radwan Force. Israel said the strikes were a response to Hezbollah launching explosive drones that injured three Israeli soldiers in a security zone.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said a "whole family" was killed in the village of Ansar, and the health ministry reported that three children and two women died. The UN humanitarian coordinator for Lebanon, Imran Riza, condemned the strike. The Times of Israel reports that Israel acknowledged civilian casualties and accused Hezbollah of deliberately placing civilians in the compound. Hezbollah denied the account, saying "another entire family has been wiped out" on orders from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who Hezbollah noted is the subject of International Criminal Court proceedings over Gaza.

The US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon reached in June is now under severe strain. Israel accused Hezbollah of violating the deal by attacking its troops, while the US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, echoed the allegation. Hezbollah has refused to disarm, and the Lebanese army has yet to take over security in southern areas as agreed. The next round of US-sponsored negotiations between the two sides is expected soon.