Israeli Airstrike on Southern Lebanon Kills Seven, Wounds Three
An Israeli airstrike on Ansar, southern Lebanon, killed at least seven and wounded three, in a major ceasefire breach.
An Israeli airstrike on the southern Lebanese village of Ansar early Saturday killed at least seven people and wounded three others, making it one of the deadliest incidents since the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire took effect on June 20.
Emergency teams at the scene were seen wrapping bodies and loading them into ambulances, while paramedics sifted through the rubble of destroyed homes in search of survivors. The strike flattened several residential structures and left a trail of destruction across the area.
Mohammad Saleh, a chalet owner and resident of Ansar, stood amid the ruins of his property and appealed to journalists visiting the site. He pointed to the scattered debris and uprooted olive trees, asking what could possibly justify such an attack on a civilian area.
"This is a criminal act beyond anything you can imagine," Saleh said. "What did this area do to deserve a warplane coming and firing such a barbaric missile at it? Nothing has been left standing."
Roadside signs welcoming visitors to Ansar remained standing amid the devastation, a stark contrast to the leveled buildings and charred landscape. The attack threatens to further strain the fragile truce that has largely held since late June, though this strike represents a significant escalation in violence.