Israel Says It Killed Hezbollah Commander in Strike That Left Children Dead

Israeli warplanes struck the south of Lebanon early Saturday morning, killing 11 people, including three children. The Israeli military said the strikes targeted a top commander from Hezbollah, an armed group backed by Iran. It was the deadliest attack in the area since a deal made in June had slowed down the fighting. The strikes came just weeks before Israel and Lebanon were scheduled to hold new peace talks.

Lebanon's Health Ministry said seven people were killed in the village of Ansar, including three children and two women. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said that an entire family had been wiped out in the attack. Four more people were killed and 17 others were wounded in the nearby town of Deir Zahrani. Among the wounded were a child and 11 women, according to health officials.

The Israeli military confirmed that its strike on Ansar was aimed at a senior Hezbollah commander. It said it had hit a central headquarters of the Radwan Force, which is an elite unit within Hezbollah. Israel also acknowledged that the commander's family may have been inside the building during the strike. The military stated that the family members were not the intended target.

After the airstrikes, rescue workers searched through the rubble of a destroyed building in Ansar. A reporter saw a swimming pool that had turned grey and cloudy with dust and debris. In Deir Zahrani, many people packed their cars with belongings and drove north toward the city of Sidon. The scenes showed how frightened residents were after the sudden attacks.

Israel said the strikes were a response to a Hezbollah attack on Israeli soldiers in the area. The Israeli army said Hezbollah had attacked forces inside the agreed security zone, a strip of land about 10 kilometers inside Lebanon. Israel called this a serious violation of the June agreement. Hezbollah warned that the Israeli strikes would be met with an appropriate response.

The violence put new strain on peace efforts between the two countries. Israel and Lebanon had been preparing for an eighth round of talks in Rome, set for early next month. Both sides had agreed to a framework deal in Washington in June. However, President Aoun suggested that Saturday's events showed the agreement was not being followed.