Ceasefire collapses as Israeli strikes hit southern Lebanon and Syrian border
Violence continues in Lebanon with over 3,100 dead, as new air attacks target areas previously spared and force mass evacuations under threat of further strikes.
Israeli forces have launched a fresh wave of air strikes across southern Lebanon and near the Syrian border, undermining a ceasefire agreement announced by US President Donald Trump on 16 April. The attacks, which occurred on Saturday, targeted multiple locations including Nabi Sreij, Yohmor al-Shaqif, and Taybeh, signalling a significant escalation in hostilities despite diplomatic efforts to halt the violence.
The strikes included five air attacks shortly before midnight in the mountainous Nabi Sreij area on the outskirts of Brital. This location had reportedly been spared from attacks since 17 April, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the current military operations. Large explosions were also reported in the towns of Yohmor al-Shaqif in Nabatieh and Taybeh in the Marjayoun district, further destabilising the region.
Compounding the security crisis, Israel’s military spokesman, Avichay Adraee, issued forced displacement warnings in Arabic for the southern Lebanese village of Burj Rahal, as well as the areas of Tyre and Zqouq al-Mufdi. These orders have triggered panic among residents, with many fleeing their homes with limited knowledge of when they might be able to return. Al Jazeera reporter Obaida Hitto, reporting from Tyre, described the situation as one of "psychological terror," noting that families with children were leaving in fear while rescue teams and ambulances remained on standby.
The violence has also severely impacted civilian infrastructure. Earlier raids near Tebnine Hospital in southern Lebanon damaged all three floors of the building, including the emergency room, intensive care unit, and surgical ward. Ambulances parked outside the facility were also destroyed, according to Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health. These attacks followed earlier raids that killed 10 people, further straining the country’s already compromised healthcare system.
Since the escalation began on 2 March, more than 3,100 people have been killed in Lebanon. Statistics shared by Lebanon’s Health Ministry on Friday indicate that the death toll includes 123 medics, more than 210 children, and nearly 300 women. The continued violence, despite the April 16 ceasefire announcement, underscores the fragility of the current political and security landscape in the region.
