Municipal car targeted by an Israeli airstrike on Harouf (Nabatieh) on May 19, 2026. (Credit: Courtesy of Muntasser Abdallah.)
SOUTH LEBANON — Deadly Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon continued unabated on Tuesday despite a nominal "cease-fire" reached on April 16 and extended for 45 days last Friday. Throughout the day, Israel ordered the evacuation of 12 localities across the south and the Bekaa, including Nabatieh Tahta, a key district of the major southern city.
At least 15 people killed, forced displacement orders issued, and 3 people abducted
Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon today killed at least 15 people. In Kfar Sir, four people were killed, including two women, and two people were injured. The people killed were identified as Safia Badr al-Din, Ali Nazih Qamiha, Naziha Qamiha, and Ahmad al-Sablini.
In Deir Qanoun al-Nahr, Israel targeted a house in Deir Qanoun al-Nahr (Sour), near the town hall, killing seven people, including four children, and injuring three. According to the chairman of the Municipal Council, Ali Qoussair, the targeted house was home to a large family and the search continues to locate three people still missing under the rubble.
The other victims were killed in Israeli strikes on Harouf (Nabatieh), Nabatieh, Froun (Bint Jbeil), and Kfar Dajjal, according to our correspondent in the South.
The Israeli drone strike on Harouf (Nabatieh) killed at least one person and injured another. The strike, which took place near the municipality’s headquarters, killed Naser Nasr, a member of the village's municipal council, who was distributing bread to residents who had remained in the village when the strike happened. The Israeli strike on Froun (Bint Jbeil) also killed one person. Another drone attack struck a motorbike on the road between Kfar Dajjal and Nabatieh, killing the rider.
Another airstrike targeted a house in Maarakeh (Sour) where a family was living, leaving five people injured, according to our correspondent in the region. Another Israeli strike targeted a house in Nabatieh, killing at least one person. A drone strike also targeted two motorbikes in Hanouiyeh in the district of Sour.
In addition, Israeli airstrikes targeted the villages of Majdal Selm (Bint Jbeil), Shehabieh (Sour), Kfar Roummane, and Zawtar Sharqieh (Nabatieh), as well as a house in Mlikh (Jezzine).
At 2 p.m., Israeli soldiers abducted seven people on the Khraybeh road, on the outskirts of Kfar Hammam and Kfar Shuba (Hasbaya). Four of them — Syrian workers — were subsequently freed after being briefly held in Rashaya al-Foukhar, according to the Civil Defense, which added that three citizens remain in Israeli detention. They are three brothers from the village of Halta, identified as Ali, Shawqi, and Ahmad Attieh, according to our correspondent in the South.
Meanwhile, the Israeli army ordered the evacuation of 11 villages in southern Lebanon and one in the Western Bekaa at around noon. The threatened villages are Toura, Bazourieh, Tayr Debba, Shehabieh, Burj al-Shemali (Sour), Nabatieh Tahta, Habboush, Ain Qana, Jibsheet, Houmin Fawqa (Nabatieh), Kfar Houneh (Jezzine), and Libbaya (West Bekaa). This is the first time that residents of Nabatieh Tahta, an area of the major city in southern Lebanon, have been ordered by Israel to evacuate their homes.
Our correspondent also reported Israeli artillery shelling targeting the villages of Zibqin (Sour), Debbine (Marjayoun), Yater, and Kafra (Bint Jbeil). In parallel, an Israeli drone over the city over Saida at a low altitude this morning. Moreover, Israeli fire targeted farmers harvesting watermelons in an agricultural field in the Mansouri plain, in the village of Qleileh, south of Sour, without causing casualties. The area was also hit by phosphorus bombs, whilst several shells landed close to the farmers.
Hezbollah counter-attacks
Meanwhile, Hezbollah operations against Israeli occupying forces are also ongoing. According to a statement released by the group, it fired an attack drone at an Israeli communications vehicle in the square of Taybeh (Marjayoun) at 8 a.m., noting that it "was seen burning."
Hezbollah also said that it fired a squadron of attack drones at Israeli vehicles and soldiers west of the village of Arab al-Aramsh in northern Israel at 10 a.m., and another squadron of attack drones at the naval base of Ras al-Naqoura at 10:55 a.m.
It also fired a volley of rockets at a gathering of Israeli soldiers and military vehicles in Rshaf, destroyed an “Iron Dome” air defense system platform at the Jal al-Allam site at 1.25 p.m., and launched a squadron of drones at 4 p.m. against a newly established Israeli position in Maroun al-Ras (Bint Jbeil).
The group also claimed responsibility for an attack on the village of Margaliot at 2.30 p.m. and stated that it had targeted an Israeli military vehicle in Miskav Am at 2 p.m., claiming to have achieved a “confirmed hit.” The Israeli army, for its part, announced that a drone launched from Lebanon had exploded in northern Israel, whilst the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported two injuries.
The group said that it fired an attack drone at an Israeli military vehicle at the junction of Qouzah (Bint Jbeil) at 4:30 p.m. It also said that it fired another attack drone at Israeli soldiers in the village of Ramieh (Bint Jbeil) at 4:45 pm. Hezbollah claimed that it achieved "confirmed hits" in both attacks. Furthermore, the group stated that it fired artillery shells at Israeli soldiers in the village of Beit Lif (Bint Jbeil) at 11:30 a.m.
The group also claimed responsibility for two attacks on Monday at 4 p.m: According to statements, the group fired a "high-quality" attack drone at an Israeli military grouping of Israeli soldiers inside a tent in the village of Dibil (Marjayoun), noting that it achieved a "direct hit," and a squadron of drones against Israeli soldiers in the village of Odaisseh (Marjyoun).
Monday's attacks
On Monday evening, Israel had carried out a series of intense airstrikes across southern Lebanon. Two people, Ali Fakih and Fadi Sleiman, were killed in a strike on a building in Qana (Sour), while another man, Ali Jamal Fahs, was killed in a strike on a house in Jibsheet. Last night, Israel also struck Zawtar Gharbieh, homes in Harouf, Zibqin, Kafra, and Kfar Dounin, and carried out artillery shelling on Haris and Sultanieh.
At 1 a.m., the Israeli army issued an evacuation order for an area in Maashouk, east of Sour. Civil Defense teams from Burj al-Shemali were deployed to warn residents and assist evacuations.
Shortly afterward, warplanes struck the targeted building with two missiles, completely destroying it. No casualties were reported, according to our correspondent.
Human toll
Health Minister Rakan Nasreddine announced on Tuesday that Israel has killed 116 health workers in Lebanon since the war re-escalated on March 2. Since then, Israel has killed at least 3,042 people in Lebanon and injured 9,301.
The Health Ministry has condemned Israel's full-blown destruction of the Maashouk primary healthcare center in the district of Sour, which took place on Monday 18 May.
In a statement, the Ministry stated that this center forms part of the primary healthcare network deployed across Lebanon and overseen by the Ministry, with the aim of providing healthcare services to the population. It noted that this attack brings the total number of health centers targeted since the re-rescalation of the war to 31.
Israel has targeted a total of 31 health centers since March 2.
The Ministry added that these repeated attacks constitute a “flagrant violation of international humanitarian law,” which guarantees the protection of medical personnel, medical infrastructure and health centers. It emphasized that the Israeli army is continuing its attacks on the medical sector, its teams and its facilities, in violation of international standards and conventions.
At 1 am, the Israeli army had issued an evacuation order for an area of Maashouk, east of the city of Sour. A team from the Burj al-Shemali Civil Defense went to the scene to alert residents and carry out the evacuations.
Furthermore, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday that Israel has seized around 1,000 km² of territory since Oct. 7, 2023, more than half of which is in southern Lebanon, where Israeli forces are reported to have invaded up to ten kilometers deep.
Despite the agreement reached on April 16 between Lebanon and Israel, Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon continue unabated. Meanwhile, Hezbollah has been carrying out around a dozen attack per day, mainly targeting Israeli occupation forces in the south.
Our correspondent in the south, Muntasser Abdallah, contributed to this report.
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