Israeli Strikes Kill Over Dozen in Lebanon as Escalation Deepens
The toll compounds an already staggering cumulative count. Lebanon's Public Health Emergency Operations Center reported Saturday that the country's overall death toll from the conflict since March 2 has climbed to 3,371, with a further 10,129 people wounded.
Lebanese army soldiers were also caught in the crossfire. The Lebanese Army announced via X that two soldiers sustained serious injuries after an Israeli drone struck their vehicle on a main road in the village of Ebba in the Nabatieh district, with both evacuated to hospital for treatment.
Salam: Lebanon at a Critical Juncture
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam issued a stark warning Saturday, declaring the country is navigating a critical phase as Israeli strikes intensify in scope and frequency. He accused Israel of carrying out widespread destruction and collective punishment, asserting that bombardment has shifted far beyond discrete military targets to encompass towns, villages, and civilian infrastructure.
Despite the escalation, Salam reaffirmed Beirut's commitment to a ceasefire framework — one that he said must incorporate a full Israeli withdrawal, the release of prisoners, the return of displaced persons, and internationally supported reconstruction.
The prime minister also drew a firm line on sovereignty, insisting that all decisions on war and peace must remain exclusively under state authority, and called for national unity under the principle of "one state, one decision and one army."
Hezbollah Fires Back
Hezbollah launched rockets Saturday toward the northern Israeli cities of Safed and Nahariya, the Israel Defense Forces said, reporting no casualties. The IDF added that the launches followed its own prior warning of expected incoming rocket fire from Lebanon.
Netanyahu confirmed Friday that Israeli forces had expanded operations north of the Litani River, pushing beyond the designated security zone where troops had been stationed since a ceasefire took effect in mid-April.
Israeli media assessments linked the uptick in Hezbollah activity directly to the broadened Israeli military footprint in Lebanon. Some reporting also suggested both sides may be ramping up operations ahead of potential US-Iran negotiations that could encompass efforts to halt hostilities on the Lebanese front.
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