Israeli airstrike on residential building in Saksakieh, Saida, sheltering forcibly displaced families kills 7 people, including children | LIVE

A family survives the Israeli strike on Bedias (Sour)

• A family of 11 survived the strike on Bedias (Sour) which targeted a site adjacent to their home.
• An Israeli airstrike targeted Zawtar Gharbieh (Nabatieh), and artillery fire struck Braasheet and Safad al-Batikh (Bint Jbeil).
• In Ansar, an Israeli drone strike seriously injured the driver of a scooter.

Israeli army demolitions in Blida, Mais al-Jabal, and Aitaroun

Israel carried out home demolitions in Blida and Mais al-Jabal (Marjayoun), as well as in Aitaroun (Bint Jbeil) within the so-called "buffer zone" it has established to occupy Lebanese territory.

Israel strikes house in Bedias (Sour), kills one

Israel has bombed a house in Bedias, in the district of Sour, killing at least one person, according to our correspondent in the south.

Civil Defense recovers five bodies killed by Israeli strike on Debbine

• The Lebanese Civil Defense managed today to evacuate one injured person and recover the bodies of five people killed following Israeli air strikes on Debbine (Marjayoun) over the past two days, reports our correspondent in the region.
• Israel targeted the Bayyad neighborhood in the town of Nabatieh for the second time today.
• The body of a victim killed in an air strike on the road between Mayfadoun and Nabatieh Fawqa remains strewn on the road, as emergency services have not been permitted safe access by Israel and the "Mechanism."
• A Merkava tank was hit by Hezbollah and caught fire in Bayyada, in the district of Sour, according to footage obtained by our correspondent.

Strikes continue targeting houses, vehicles in the south while rescue operations are hindered

• An Israeli airstrike targeted a house in the Bayyad neighborhood in the city of Nabatieh.
• An Israeli drone strike targeting a vehicle near Hiram in Sour killed Qassem Mohamad Khalil from Abbasieh (Sour).
• Two Israeli drone strikes targeted Haboush (Nabatieh).
• An Israeli drone strike on an area between Mayfadoun and Nabatieh Fawqah killed one person. Rescue teams have not been able to reach the site due to prohibitive Israeli military activity.

Israeli strike on house in Saksakieh kills at least seven people and injures 15

The Health Ministry announced in a statement that a preliminary toll from this afternoon’s Israeli strike on a building housing three displaced families in Saksakieh (Saida) stands at seven people killed, including a young girl, and fifteen injured, among whom are three children.

According to information from our correspondent in the south, three children, aged two years, six months, and eleven years, were killed, along with several members of their family.

Hezbollah announces three drone attacks on Israeli forces in Deir Siryan

Hezbollah announced it carried out three attacks using “attack drones” against Israeli soldiers, a military vehicle and a bulldozer in Deir Siryan (Marjayoun).

Saksakieh mukhtar denies rumours that displaced family targeted in the town received call to evacuate

The mukhtar of Saksakieh (Saida), Amin Shoumar, denied what has been circulating on social media claiming that the displaced family targeted earlier today in the town had received a phone call instructing them to evacuate the house they were staying in.

He stressed that "these reports are completely false and are merely rumors, fabrication, and lies against the wounded and bereaved family and the martyr."

He added that such claims "are an attempt to justify the enemy’s brutality and the horrific crime committed," which he said "adds to its long record of crimes and massacres."

He further stated that yesterday, "rumors spread by some reckless youths from the town claimed that warnings had been issued regarding certain neighborhoods and houses far from the location targeted today. It later became clear that these were lies and tricks spread by some teenagers for ulterior motives." He said they had been identified and would be pursued for these acts.

Hezbollah targets two military positions in northern Israel with drones

Hezbollah claims an attack on “an Israeli army D9 bulldozer near the Abbad site” in northern Israel using an explosive drone this morning. These bulldozers are notably used by Israel for systematic demolition operations in villages in southern Lebanon. The group also claimed responsibility for another drone attack on Israeli soldiers near the Misgav Am position, also in northern Israel.

Also earlier in the day, Israel announced it had detected an “explosive drone” launched by Hezbollah in the north, near the border, without specifying where. The drone “caused no damage or casualties.”

Relentless Israeli air and drone strikes on southern Lebanon, with rising death toll

• An Israeli strike targeted the outskirts of Safad al-Batikh and Jmaijmeh (Bint Jbeil).
• An Israeli drone strike targeted a car in Mayfadoun (Nabatieh)
• An Israeli strike on a house in Haboush (Nabatieh) killed three people.

Hezbollah targets Israeli bulldozer near Abad site, soldiers near Misgav Am

Hezbollah targeted an Israeli army D9 bulldozer in the vicinity of the Abbad site, opposite Houla (Marjayoun), with an attack drone.

The party also said it targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers near the Misgav Am site, opposite Odaisseh (Marjayoun) with an attack drone.

Israeli drone strike on Jahilieh, Chouf, kills 3 people

The drone strike on Jahilieh, a village in the Chouf region south of Beirut that had previously been spared, has left three people dead, according to our correspondent’s sources.

According to villagers, a first missile was fired at the car but missed. The passengers then attempted to flee by getting out of the vehicle, before being targeted by a second missile.

Southern Lebanon: Israeli drone strike at entrance of Sour

An Israeli drone strike also targeted a car at the northern entrance to Sour, near the Hiram Hospital junction, according to our correspondent. No casualty figures are available as yet following the strike.

The Israeli army also carried out:

• A drone strike on Hariss and air strikes on Yater and Safad al-Battikh (Bint Jbeil).
• A drone strike on Mansouri (Sour).
• A man died in an attack reported earlier on Jibsheet (Nabatieh). He was watering plants in front of his house when he was killed.

Hezbollah claims it ‘intercepted’ a drone over Abbasieh, Sour

Hezbollah claimed it "intercepted’ an Israeli drone this morning over Abbasieh (Sour) "using a surface-to-air missile."

It also claimed responsibility for artillery attacks on Israeli soldiers in Rshaf, in the district of Bint Jbeil, and Bayyada, in the district of Sour.

Israeli strike targets car in Jahilieh, Chouf

An Israeli strike targeted a car Jahilieh (Chouf), with ambulances arriving to the scene shortly after. This is the first strike on the town since the war started in October 2023.

Rescue efforts underway following Israeli strike on Saksakieh

Rescue efforts ongoing in Saksakieh (Saida), after an Israeli strike targeted displaced families. (Photo courtesy of Muntasser Abdallah/L'Orient Today)

Israel targets Range Rover in Saadiyat, killing 2 and injuring 1

A targeted strike hit a Range Rover on the highway before Medyar, in Saadiyat, killing two people and injuring one, our correspondent reported. This is the second strike on a vehicle in Saadiyat today in the same hour.

On April 15, Israel targeted two vehicles in the same area just 10 minutes apart.

Israeli strike on Saksakieh: 6 killed and 6 wounded, all blood types needed

The Israeli strike on a house in Saksakieh (Saida) killed six people. Six people were wounded and rescued from beneath the rubble of the destroyed house, according to our correspondent in southern Lebanon.

Alaa Al-Din and Al-Faqih hospitals have put out an urgent call for blood donations of all blood types to help with the treatment of the recovered injured.

Israel targets building housing three displaced families in Saksakieh; 2 people killed in airstrike on Habboush

An Israeli strike targeted a residential home in Saksakieh, in the Saida district, where three families from Jibsheet had taken refuge, according to our correspondent. Four bodies have already been recovered from the rubble, whilst rescue operations continue at the site.

Meanwhile, an air raid killed two people in Habboush (Nabatieh), whilst a strike on Jibsheet left one person injured. Artillery fire in the same region targeted Kfar Roummane, as well as Ain Baal and Mansouri (Sour)

Israel targets car in Saadiyat, on highway between Saida and Beirut, killing driver and sending vehicle in flames

Israeli drone strike on vehicle on the Saida-Beirut highway. (Photo shared by our correspondent in southern Lebanon, Muntasser Abdallah)

The driver of the car targeted by an Israeli drone strike in Saadiyat was killed, our correspondent reported.

Israel targets vehicle in Saadiyat, on highway between Saida and Beirut

Israeli drone strike on vehicle on the Saida-Beirut highway. (Photo shared by our correspondent in southern Lebanon, Muntasser Abdallah)

An Israeli drone targeted a car in Saadiyat on the highway between Saida and Beirut, our correspondent in the south reported. The vehicle was hit and caught fire.

This strike is the first in the areas since the "cease-fire" came into effect on April 17. Two days prior to this date, Israeli drones had struck vehicles in the same area, just minutes apart.

Airstrikes target Bekaa and the south

• An Israeli airstrike targeted Qalyaa (Bekaa), and the missile did not explode. A second strike hit the outskirts of the town as well.
• An Israeli drone strike targeted a bulldozer near Tibnin (Bint Jbeil), close to the hospital, with no injuries reported.
• A drone strike targeted Jibsheet (Nabatieh) critically injuring one person.
• Airstrikes targeted Burj Rahal, the area between Mansouri and Beit Yahoun, Ain Baal and the Sharaafiyat neighborhood in Abbasieh (all located in Sour).

Rescue teams facing difficulties moving due to ongoing strikes and drones in the air

• Ambulance and emergency teams are facing significant difficulties moving to the sites of the strikes due to heavy Israeli drone presence hovering above and ongoing Israeli airstrikes, our correspondent in southern Lebanon reported.
• Israeli airstrikes targeted the towns of Halloussieh, Tayr Debba, and Barish (all located in Sour). An airstrike also struck Zrarieh (Saida).
• Separately, an Israeli military helicopter conducted a sweeping operation using heavy machine-gun fire toward the outskirts of Deir Siryan (Marjayoun).
• An Israeli airstrike also killed killed one person and injured two others behind the Abu Zaki gas station in Maaroub (Sour) earlier this morning.

Suspected oil slick off Iran's Kharg Island

Satellite images appeared to show an oil slick spreading off the coast of Iran's Kharg Island, a key oil export terminal for the Islamic Republic. It was not immediately clear what had caused the apparent spill, which was located off the small Gulf island's west coast.

Read more here.

Hezbollah targets Israeli vehicles in Rshaf

Hezbollah has claimed responsibility for three attacks carried out overnight against Israeli forces occupying southern Lebanon. The first, launched at 11.15 p.m., targeted Israeli soldiers and military vehicles in Bayyada (Sour) with a barrage of rockets, according to the group. Hezbollah then claimed to have targeted Israeli army vehicles in Rshaf (Bint Jbeil) at 2.30 a.m. and again at 3.15 a.m., first with artillery shells and then with a barrage of rockets.

Trump says he expects a response from Iran to his latest proposal 'tonight'

Donald Trump has said he expects a response from Iran “tonight” to his latest proposal aimed at bringing a lasting end to hostilities.

“I should be receiving a letter [from Iran] this evening, so we’ll see how it goes,” the U.S. president told reporters in Washington.

Israeli artillery shelling and drone strikes continue across southern districts

Israeli artillery shelling has continued since dawn, targeting Wadi al-Hujair and Touline (both in Marjayoun), as well as the outskirts of Froun and Ghandourieh (Bint Jbeil), along with Majdal Selm, Qabrikha (Marjayoun), and Qleileh (Sour).

Shelling also targeted Yohmar al-Shaqif, Arnoun, Zawtar Sharqieh, Kfar Tibnit, Nabatieh Fawqa, Shoukin, and Mayfadoun (all in Nabatieh).

An Israeli drone strike targeted a tire shop on the main road in Shehabieh (Sour), injuring one person. Another drone strike near the junction of Zawtar in Nabatieh Fawqa reportedly killed a young girl. A separate strike also targeted Mansouri (Sour).

Another drone strike targeted a vehicle near the Martyr Mohammad Saad Foundation in Burj Rahal (Sour), killing three men working in nearby orchards: Hassan Siblini, Mahdi Maghrabi, and Ibrahim Qassem.

Meanwhile, a fifth body was recovered from the previous day’s strike on Toura (Sour).

Israeli strikes continue killing people and destroying homes, causing more displacement

The ruins of a heritage house in Kfar Roummane destroyed by an Israeli airstrike. (Photo shared by our south Lebanon correspondent, Muntasser Abdallah)

An airstrike targeted Burj Qalaway (Bint Jbeil), while artillery shelling struck the outskirts of Ghandourieh (Bint Jbeil). Additional airstrikes targeted the area between Hadatha (Bint Jbeil) and Rshaf (Bint Jbeil).

Further airstrikes struck Kfar Tibnit (Nabatieh), Yohmor al-Shaqif (Nabatieh), Arnoun (Nabatieh), the city of Nabatieh (Nabatieh), Arzoun (Sour), and Majdal Selm (Marjayoun).

In the al-Maslakh neighborhood of Nabatieh (Nabatieh), three people were reportedly killed and several others injured.

Two additional airstrikes targeted Kfar Roummane (Nabatieh). One strike hit near the cemetery, targeting the home of teacher Ali Al-Zein, a historic residence. The second strike hit behind the school, targeting the home of teacher Ali Farhat.

Emergency and rescue teams are continuing efforts to remove rubble from the affected sites. So far, two injured people have been transferred to hospitals for treatment.

People have also been forcibly displaced from several villages in the Sour district, including Abbasieh, Burj Rahal, and other nearby areas.

Two bodies recovered from the site of Israeli attack in Mayfadoun (Nabatieh), despite Israel refusing access

After intensive efforts through the "Mechanism" to obtain approval, from Israel, for the evacuation of two civilian victims who were targeted by the Israeli army on Thursday morning in Mayfadoun (Nabatieh), permission to access the strike location was not granted, our correspondent in the south reported.

Despite this, civil defense teams from the Islamic Health Authority managed to reach the site, recover one victim, and prepare the second for transfer. However, the continuing attacks in the area forced the team to temporarily withdraw for their own safety.

One victim was transferred to a local hospital, while the second was moved to a nearby point, where the Lebanese Red Cross, after obtaining the necessary approval, completed the transfer to the hospital.

Friday night: Israeli artillery shelling and airstrikes on southern Lebanon, fatalities recorded

• Israel carried out two airstrikes on Deir Zahrani, killing three people.
• Israeli artillery also targeted Jibsheet (Nabatieh), while sounds of clashes were reported in Taybeh (Marjayoun).
• Two consecutive airstrikes targeted Bazourieh (Sour) with missiles that reportedly did not explode.
• Artillery shelling targeted Mansouri (Sour).
• Airstrikes also struck Harouf (Nabatieh), killing two people and injuring three others.
• Artillery shelling later targeted the outskirts of Zibdin, Harouf, and Arnoun (all located in Nabatieh) alongside additional airstrikes.

Israeli airstrikes target 37 villages in the south Friday, while Hezbollah launched 26 attacks

According to our correspondent in southern Lebanon, Israeli warplanes struck 37 towns in southern Lebanon on Friday alone, with several towns hit multiple times. Israeli drone strikes targeted 10 locations across 10 towns, while eight towns were subjected to concentrated artillery fire. Two large explosions were also reportedly carried out by Israeli forces in two towns.

Hezbollah claimed 26 attacks, described as the highest number since the cease-fire went into effect on April 17.

Forced displacement order for 9 villages in southern Lebanon

The Israeli army’s Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee issued a forced displacement order earlier this morning to the following villages: Tayr Debba, Abbasieh, Burj Rahal, Maaroub, Barish, Arzoun, Jennata, Ain Baal (all located in Sour), and Zrarieh (Saida).

Welcome to our live news blog

Hello and welcome to our live news blog.

We will be following closely developments in Lebanon, particularly in the South where Israel continues attacking towns and villages relentlessly with air strikes, drone strikes, and artillery fire, killing civilians, demolishing houses, and razing civilian and agricultural infrastructure to the ground.

To catch up on events from the last 24 hours, you can read through yesterday's live blog here.

For a summary of Israeli attacks and Hezbollah counter-attacks in southern Lebanon yesterday, check out our South Lebanon wrap-up here.