The Israeli army has intensified its airstrikes on southern Lebanon, particularly targeting the municipality of Nabatiyeh, resulting in the deaths of at least five individuals, including the city's mayor, Ahmad Kahil. The governor of Nabatiyeh, Howaida Turk, reported that the attacks numbered between ten to fifteen, with significant damage inflicted on municipal buildings and infrastructure associated with Hezbollah. Prime Minister Najib Mikati condemned the strikes as a 'deliberate' attack on a municipal council meeting, describing the incident as a 'massacre.'
Since the escalation of conflict in mid-September, Lebanon has witnessed over 1,300 fatalities, with nearly 700,000 people displaced according to UN reports. The ongoing conflict saw Israel shifting its military focus from Gaza to Lebanon after a series of border skirmishes with Hezbollah. In response to the attacks, Hezbollah's deputy leader, Naim Qassem, indicated that the group would retaliate against Israel, advocating for a ceasefire as the only solution to the conflict. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the idea of a unilateral ceasefire, citing concerns over Hezbollah's potential to regroup.
