Israel hits Lebanon with deadly strikes, says four of its troops killed

BEIRUT/JERUSALEM — At least 18 people were killed in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon on Friday, Lebanon's health ministry said, while the Israeli military said four soldiers were killed in one of the deadliest single incidents since the latest escalation began. The Lebanese health ministry said intensive airstrikes since midnight had hampered rescue and evacuation efforts, reporting a preliminary toll of 18 dead and 33 wounded that was expected to rise. Residents and Lebanese media said airstrikes and shelling hit several towns in the Nabatieh district overnight and into early Friday, in what Lebanon's state news agency NNA described as one of the heaviest bombardments in recent weeks. Israel said the strikes targeted what it described as Hezbollah operatives and infrastructure across several areas of southern Lebanon and were carried out in response to repeated ceasefire violations by the Iran-backed group. Hezbollah said its fighters ambushed an Israeli force advancing near Ali al-Taher hill in southern Lebanon, destroying three Merkava tanks with guided missiles and targeting trWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times