Israeli strikes in south Lebanon kill at least 11, Lebanon says

Lebanon’s health ministry said Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon on Saturday killed at least 11 people, among the deadliest days since a US-mediated ceasefire framework was agreed. Seven people, including three children and two women, died when warplanes hit a house in Ansar. Four others were killed in a strike on Deir El Zahrani. Nineteen people were wounded, the National News Agency reported.

The Israeli military said it struck a Hezbollah Radwan Force headquarters in Ansar, killing commander Ali Samir Al-Haj Hassan and others, and accused Hezbollah of deliberately placing civilians in the compound. Hezbollah said the attacks would be "met with what they deserve". Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Hezbollah violated the ceasefire and attacked soldiers, prompting the response.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called the strikes a clear message aimed at negotiations and US efforts to implement the framework. The US State Department said a permanent Israeli military presence in Lebanon is not consistent with the deal. Israel has said it will keep forces in southern Lebanon until Hezbollah is disarmed. The Lebanese army is expected to take control under the ceasefire terms.