Israeli strike kills at least two people in Bint Jbeil, South Lebanon: Day 283 of the Gaza war

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According to information gathered from a medical source and the Mukhtar of Bint Jbeil, the Israeli airstrike on Bint Jbeil killed a Hezbollah operative, Amer Dagher, and his two sisters, Taghrid and Fawziyeh. Additionally, Hezbollah announced in a statement that its operative, Amer, was killed in the strike on Bint Jbeil.

Our correspondent in South Lebanon noted that the family owned a small business in the locality.

Photo of the home targeted by the Israeli airstrike earlier this evening in Bint Jbeil. (Credit: Mountasser Abdallah/LOrient Today)

⚡Two civilians have been killed in the house targeted by an Israeli airstrike in Bint Jbeil, and another sustained life-threatening injuries and is currently in surgery, Bint Jbeil's mukhtar (a local official responsible for records) and security sources informed our correspondent

They were identified as three members of the Dagher family: a brother and his two sisters, each approximately sixty years old.

Updates from southern Lebanon, according to eyewitness accounts:

- Two consecutive Israeli airstrikes targeted Bint Jbeil. According to initial information gathered by our correspondent, the strike targeted an inhabited house, and paramedics have been dispatched to the scene. Three people have sustained life-threatening injuries, according to security sources.

- An Israeli airstrike bombed Kfar Kila (Marjayoun district), northeast of Bint Jbeil. 

In a statement, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and three security sources contacted by Reuters confirmed the identity of the Syrian businessman killed in Syria by an Israeli drone strike as Mohammed Baraa Katerji.

Katerji, alongside his brother Houssam, was known for his involvement in smuggling operations between areas controlled by the regime and opposition forces in Syria.

The European Union has imposed a new series of sanctions on Israeli "extremist" settlers and activist groups responsible for "serious and systematic" violations of Palestinian rights in the West Bank and Jerusalem.

To read more about the decision, press here. 

According to a statement released on X by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an Israeli drone targeted a vehicle on Syrian territory near the Lebanese border, resulting in the deaths of two individuals, including a Hezbollah official. 

Reports, which we have not independently verified at this time, suggest the attack occurred around 5:30 p.m.

The second casualty was reportedly a Syrian businessman associated with Bashar al-Assad's regime, identified as Mohammed Bara'a Katergi —  who was sanctioned by the United States in 2018 and 2021. 

Here are the latest updates from the South Lebanon-Israeli border:

- Israeli artillery shelled the outskirts of Kfar Hammam (Hasbaya), locals reported to our correspondent. Witnesses reported shells falling near residences. 

- Hezbollah announced it had targeted the Samaka Israeli site on the disputed heights of Kfar Shuba with artillery at 5:40 p.m.

Rocket sirens sounded in northern Israel, near the Lebanese border, reported Haaretz. 

Sirens were activated in Kiryat Shmona and nearby communities, near the Lebanese border and opposite the Lebanese village of Houla. 

Families of U.S. hostages held in Gaza asked to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his visit to Washington, according to a letter obtained by Axios.

Netanyahu, arriving in Washington on July 22, has met some of these families individually but not as a group. The families represent five living American hostages, three who were murdered, and two released in November.

They aim to urge Netanyahu to advance the Gaza hostage and cease-fire deal.

"We believe the time is ripe to discuss the Israeli government's strategy for securing the release of our loved ones," the families wrote.

"Delivering a speech to Congress about Israel's military operation in Gaza without meeting with the families of the American hostages would signal that the fate of the hostages is not the highest priority for Israel's government," they added. 

U.K. Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported an incident Northwest of Yemen's Hodeidah, according to Reuters. 

A merchant ship in the Red Sea experienced three missile explosions today, following an earlier attack by three small boats, according to Britain's maritime agency and security firm Ambrey — reported Saudi state-owned news channel al-Arabiya

The ship, located approximately 70 nautical miles southwest of Yemen's port city Hodeidah, reported a missile explosion at 8:00 GMT, followed by two more explosions around 45 minutes later,  UKMTO reported.

Earlier the same day, the vessel was struck twice by an unmanned small craft and fired upon by two manned small craft, UKMTO added.

The vessel and its crew were unharmed and continued to their next destination, Ambrey confirmed.

So far, there has been no claim of responsibility for the attack.

Hezbollah claimed responsibility for an attack at 10:50 a.m. and targeting "surveillance equipment" in the Israeli site of "Al-Raheb," which faces Aita al-Shaab (Bint Jbeil).

Update on the situation in southern Lebanon:

- Israeli jets bombed the outskirts of Aita al-Shaab (Bint Jbeil) and Mais al-Jabal, according to residents of these villages. The strike on Mais al-Jabal caused injuries, according to the Al-Rissala Scouts association (affiliated with the Amal movement).

- An Israeli drone launched a missile at Marwahin (Bint Jbeil), according to residents. While rescuers from Al-Rissala Scouts were on the scene after the strike, they narrowly escaped a new bombardment on the town. 

Gaza's health ministry announced a new death toll of 38,664, which includes 80 new deaths in 24 hours.

The ministry also updated its death toll from an Israeli strike on the Abu Araban school in central Gaza, saying that the number of dead has risen from 15 to 22.

According to the ministry, 89,097 people have been injured since the start of the war.

Photo provided by L'Orient Today's correspondent Muntasser Abdallah

Hezbollah Parliamentary bloc chief Mohammad Raad said on Monday that his party's missilies can reach and target 'any point" in Israel.

His words came during his two speeches in Ashoura councils in Kafr Sir and Toul (Nabatieh).

"The enemy is seeking strength from the Americans in order to threaten and intimidate, but the calculations with Lebanon differ from his calculations in Gaza, and the resistance is targeting it with its missiles. The enemy knows that any point in occupied Palestine will be targeted by the resistance missiles," Raad said.

Raad also said that Israel's prime minister is waiting for the results of the U.S. elections, adding that for Hezbollah, it would not matter much whether former President Donald Trump or President Joe Biden wins.

"For us, it is the same whether Trump comes, who is a murderous criminal, or Biden, or whoever comes other than Biden as a candidate for the presidency, as Biden was the main supporter of the mass abomination committed by the Zionist entity in Gaza," Raad said.

The Israeli air force broke the sound barrier over Saida and several villages in the south, as well as in the Bekaa, according to L'Orient Today's correspondents.

Hezbollah also claimed responsibility for an attack targeting Israeli soldiers near the "Biranit barracks," located opposite the Lebanese village of Rmaish (Bint Jbeil).

Hezbollah claimed responsibility for a "missile" strike carried out at 7:05 p.m. on the "Ramtha" site , in the disputed heights of Kfar Shouba. 

The situation in southern Lebanon last night:

Around 8 p.m.:

- Israeli jets bombed Bani Hayyan and Houla (Marjayoun).

- A house in Mais al-Jabal (Marjayoun) was completely destroyed in an airstrike, which did not cause any casualties. Rescuers cleared the area around the strike and extinguished a fire that broke out in the area.

- An Israeli drone launched a missile at Aita al-Shaab (Bint Jbeil).

- Artillery fire targeted Ramieh (Bint Jbeil).

Around midnight :

- Artillery shells were launched on the outskirts of Odaisseh (Marjayoun). 

Meanwhile, the army continued operations in the Rafah area in the south and in Gaza City in the north, where it said it had "eliminated several terrorists in close combat." One bombing killed two people in the Tal al-Hawa neighborhood, according to the Civil Defense.

At least 141 people have been killed in 24 hours, the ministry announced yesterday, one of the highest tolls in several weeks, according to AFP.

An UNRWA official described witnessing "some of the most horrific scenes" since the start of the war at Nasser hospital in Khan Younis.

"I saw toddlers with double amputations, children who were paralyzed and unable to receive treatment," said Scott Anderson, UNRWA's deputy humanitarian coordinator and director of affairs in Gaza.

Israel has drawn international criticism for its attacks on schools in the Gaza Strip, with France and Germany calling for an investigation.

The government of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva called yesterday not to remain silent in the face of an "endless massacre."

Following the Israeli strike on Saturday on a camp for displaced people in Khan Younis, which left at least 92 dead according to the authorities in Gaza, Hamas said that the military leader of the movement, Mohammad Deif, targeted by this bombardment, was alive, that he was "well" and "directly supervising the operations." 

Following this bombing, another Hamas official told AFP yesterday of the movement's decision to withdraw from indirect negotiations for a cease-fire with Israel conducted via the mediating countries, Qatar, Egypt and the United States, denouncing the Israeli "massacres" "against unarmed civilians."

Hamas "is, however, ready to resume negotiations" when Israel "shows seriousness, to conclude a cease-fire agreement" associated with an exchange of Palestinian prisoners for hostages held in Gaza since the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7.

Yesterday, the Israeli army once again bombed a school in Gaza run by UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, which was sheltering displaced people in the Nuseirat camp in the central Gaza Strip, claiming to have "hit terrorists." This is the fifth school struck by Israel in just over a week.

According to the army, the building "served as a hideout" and a base for "attacks" against Israeli troops.

The bombing of the Abou Araban school building, "which shelters thousands of displaced people, left 15 dead," mainly women and children, declared the spokesperson for the Civil Defense, Mahmoud Bassal.

Witnesses reported casualties while an AFP correspondent saw the devastated building and groups of survivors gathered in the debris-strewn courtyard.

Be sure to read the Morning Brief so you are caught up with what has been happening.

Morning Brief

Four killed in southern Lebanon and Israeli assassination attempt: Everything you need to know to start your Monday

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