A suspected Israeli strike rocked southern Lebanon late Thursday night local time, killing at least two people amid increasing tensions between Israel and Hezbollah.
The strike hit around 11:30 pm local time (4:30 pm ET) between the towns of Jannata and Deir Qanoun En Nahr, killing two women and injuring 19 other people, including children, Lebanon’s official National News Agency reported. Jannata is in the Tyre district, some 20 miles (33 km) from the border with Israel. The Israeli military carried out a strike in the same district on Tuesday, killing a senior Hezbollah commander.
Hezbollah confirmed the death of the two women, identified as Sally Sakiki and Dalal Izz al-Din. Sakiki was reportedly in her early 20s and a paramedic in the Islamic Risala Scout Association. Izz al-Din was preparing to fly to Africa to meet with her family for Eid al-Adha when the strike hit, according to local reports.
Rumors spread widely on social media that a targeted Israeli strike had killed three high-level Hezbollah officials — Hashem Safieddine, head of the movement’s Executive Council and a cousin of Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah; Subhi al-Tufayli, a former leader; and Naim Qassem, the organization’s deputy chief. So far, Hezbollah has not commented on the rumors, nor did the Israeli army.
The Lebanese news outlet An-Nahar reported that a multistory building in Jannata was hit by a missile, leading to more than 20 injuries. Several drones were seen above the building, according to the outlet.
Hezbollah’s news outlet Al-Manar attributed the incident to a strike from Israeli fighter jets. The Israeli military did not immediately comment.
Videos circulating on social media showed a large fire and ambulances rushing to the scene.
🚨 🇱🇧 #Breaking: Massive explosion heard across south Lebanon. Initial reports indicate an Israeli airstrike targeted a residential building in Janata, near Tyre. #Lebanon #Israel pic.twitter.com/sMDaFCKQP0
— Ali Hashem علي هاشم (@alihashem_tv) June 13, 2024
Earlier in the day, the Israeli Air Force struck Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon in response to the Iran-backed group on Thursday hitting six Israeli military sites with missiles and three other bases with explosive-laden drones. Clashes have intensified in recents weeks as US and Western officials express growing concern over an all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah.
