Israeli strikes hit southern Lebanon

The Israeli military conducted a series of air strikes across southern Lebanon on Saturday, targeting the al-Tuffah region and the town of Markaba, according to local and international reports.

The strikes reportedly hit locations in Blat, Wadi Barghouti, and the heights of the al-Tuffah region. In addition, "quadcopter" drones were reported to have dropped explosive devices in Markaba for the third time. While Israel said the attacks were aimed at Hezbollah infrastructure, Al Jazeera correspondents reported that the raids primarily struck open areas in forests and hills, with no casualties reported at the time.

These attacks follow ongoing violations of a ceasefire agreement reached in November 2024. The United Nations has reported that more than 300 people have been killed since the ceasefire took effect, including 127 civilians. Recent incidents include:

• A strike in Kfar Dan on Thursday that killed a 16-year-old Syrian boy and wounded 29 others.

• Strikes last week in the Bekaa Valley and the Ein el-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp that killed at least 12 people.

Israel continues to occupy parts of Lebanon, blocking reconstruction of border villages and preventing displaced residents from returning. Disputes over Hezbollah's disarmament remain unresolved. The Lebanese government says it has nearly completed the first phase of disarming the group south of the Litani River, while Hezbollah rejects further disarmament, stating it applies only to areas south of the river and refusing to surrender weapons while Israeli military actions continue.