Israel intensifies attacks on southern Lebanon, killing at least 16 people

Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon have caused deaths and injuries, with Lebanese health authorities reporting at least 16 killed and 58 wounded. A drone strike killed six members of the same family while they tried to flee at dawn along the Adloun Highway linking Sidon and Tyre. Bombardment has expanded to residential areas, roads, and civilian infrastructure. The Lebanese army reported a soldier killed in a strike in the Nabatieh area, with additional soldier deaths in recent days across southern Lebanon and the western Beqaa Valley. Israel issued sweeping displacement orders for large parts of the south, including Tyre, instructing residents to evacuate immediately and move north of the Zahrani River, forcing thousands to flee. In Tyre, air strikes hit a building and a cafe, causing fires and debris searches for casualties.

"At least 16 people have been killed and 58 wounded in Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon, according to Lebanese health authorities, as Israel intensifies its assault and issues mass displacement orders across the region. Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported on Thursday that six of the victims belonged to the same family. They were killed in an Israeli drone strike while trying to flee at dawn along the Adloun Highway, a key route linking Sidon and Tyre, it said."

"The attack came as Israel expanded its bombardment across southern Lebanon, hitting residential areas, roads and civilian infrastructure. The Lebanese army said one of its soldiers was killed in an Israeli strike in the Nabatieh area, the latest in a string of attacks targeting military personnel. Other soldiers have also been killed in recent days in strikes across southern Lebanon and the western Beqaa Valley."

"Israel has also issued sweeping displacement orders covering large parts of the south, including Tyre and surrounding areas. Residents were told to evacuate immediately and move north of the Zahrani River, roughly 40km (25 miles) from the Lebanon-Israel border. The orders, shared on social media with marked buildings, have forced thousands of people to flee under threat of attack."

"In Tyre, Israeli air strikes hit a building and a cafe overnight, setting off fires and leaving emergency crews searching through debris for casualties. The Israeli military said it is targeting what it calls Hezbollah infrastructure, but Israeli strikes have repeatedly hit civilian neighbourhoods and populated areas. Al Jazeera's Obaida Hitto, reporting from Tyre, said the attacks on the city were relentless. Since midnight, there have been over a dozen strikes on the city of Tyre and its surrounding areas."

Read at www.aljazeera.com