An Israeli air strike on the town of Arki near Sidon in southern Lebanon killed at least nine people, including five children, according to Lebanese health authorities. The attack also wounded seven others, the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health reported.
The strike comes amid ongoing tensions between Israel and Hezbollah-aligned groups in southern Lebanon. Cross-border attacks have intensified since the October 7 Hamas attacks, with both sides conducting military operations that have displaced civilians and escalated regional instability.
The casualty count represents one of the deadlier recent incidents in the area, with children comprising more than half of the fatalities. Lebanese health officials have documented hundreds of casualties from Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon since the conflict escalated.
The attack is likely to further strain diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border. International observers have warned that the expanding conflict risks drawing in additional regional actors and complicating ceasefire negotiations in Gaza.