At least six people were killed in a fresh wave of Israeli airstrikes across southern Lebanon on Monday, according to reports from the state-run National News Agency (NNA). The strikes hit multiple towns, including Bazouriyeh, Nabatiyeh El Faouqa, Sir el Gharbiyeh, and Choukine.
In the city of Tyre, warplanes targeted a facility belonging to the International Committee of the Red Cross. The NNA reported that one person injured in the strike later died, and several Red Cross vehicles sustained damage. Additional casualties were reported in a separate strike on an orchard in Tyre, though the NNA did not provide an exact death toll.
Military advance on Bint Jbeil
The Israeli military announced it expects to gain full operational control of Bint Jbeil within days. Colonel Avichay Adraee, an Israeli military spokesperson, stated on X that the 98th Division has completed the encirclement of the town and initiated an assault.
Israel claims to have killed more than 100 Hezbollah fighters in the area over the past week through a combination of airstrikes and direct combat. Hezbollah has confirmed ongoing "point-blank" clashes with Israeli forces, maintaining that the town remains a key strategic and symbolic flashpoint.
Bint Jbeil holds historical significance for Hezbollah. It was the site of fierce fighting during the 2006 war and served as the location for a major "Liberation" speech delivered by former leader Hassan Nasrallah in 2000.
Diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the conflict are underway in Washington, where Israeli and Lebanese officials are scheduled to meet Tuesday. The talks aim to secure a pause in hostilities, though Lebanese officials have expressed skepticism regarding their bargaining position.
"We are talking about a preparatory meeting at ambassador level in order to produce a pause in military activity, if not a ceasefire, so the shelling and bombardment stop," Lebanon’s culture minister, Ghassan Salame, told Al Jazeera. He noted that the Lebanese government currently lacks significant leverage in the negotiations.
The regional conflict intensified following the February 28 assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, which triggered a broader military expansion by Israel. Since the offensive escalated on March 2, at least 2,055 people have been killed and over 6,550 injured in Lebanon, according to official reports.
