Israeli strike kills 4 in Kfar Roummane, south Lebanon

BEIRUT — The Israeli army on Sunday morning claimed responsibility for the previous night’s strike on a car in Kfar Roummane in the Nabatieh district, claiming the strike killed the “logistics chief” of Hezbollah’s elite al-Radwan Force along with three other fighters.

In addition to pressure on the ground, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz issued new threats, suggesting that strikes could target Beirut in the event of any “attempted attack on northern Israel,” despite Hezbollah not having violated the truce once since it came into effect on Nov. 27, 2024.

“The Lebanese government’s commitment to disarm Hezbollah and drive it out of southern Lebanon must be fully upheld,” Katz said, accusing the party of “playing with fire” and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun of “dragging his feet.”

“Strict enforcement measures will continue and be strengthened. We will not tolerate any threat to the residents of northern Israel,” he added.

According to L'Orient Today's correspondent in the South, on Saturday night, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a vehicle in the town's center. Ambulances and fire trucks then rushed to the scene, pulling four bodies out of the burning car. Three people who had been standing nearby were wounded and transported to hospitals.

According to the health ministry, "the Israeli airstrike killed four persons and wounded three in a preliminary toll."

The state-run National News Agency reported that the Israeli army hit a car "with a guided missile" at around 10:30 p.m.

Despite the cease-fire, Israel maintains troops in five areas in southern Lebanon and strikes Lebanon daily, baselessly claiming to hit Hezbollah targets.

The Israeli army also carried out a deadly ground incursion in the South on Thursday, firing at Blida's municipality and killing an employee in his sleep. In response, President Joseph Aoun ordered the army to respond to violations of Lebanese territory — an initiative quickly praised by the Hezbollah-Amal alliance.

Aoun had called for talks with Israel in mid-October, after U.S. President Donald Trump brokered a cease-fire in Gaza.

But Aoun has accused Israel of responding to his call to come to the negotiating table by stepping up its strikes on his country.