At least 21 civilians have been killed and dozens more injured following a series of Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon over the past two days, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health.

The strikes, carried out from Sunday night into Monday morning, targeted multiple areas in southern Lebanon as well as the Bekaa Valley, hitting residential neighborhoods, vehicles, and key infrastructure in what officials describe as a widening escalation.

In the Nabatieh district, Israeli warplanes struck the town of Habboush and the nearby Ali al-Taher area. An Israeli drone attack on a vehicle at the Kafr Roummen roundabout early Monday resulted in the deaths of four civilians.

In a separate incident in the town of Toul, an airstrike hit a civilian vehicle, killing both parents and leaving their two children wounded.

Air raids also intensified in the Bekaa region, where strikes targeted Zellaya, Qilya, Suhmor, and Mashghara. Local sources reported that three civilians were killed and three others injured in Mashghara following repeated bombardments.

The violence extended to the capital, Beirut, where an Israeli strike on the Jnah neighborhood south of the city killed five people, including a 15-year-old girl and two Sudanese nationals. The attack also left 52 others wounded, among them eight children.

Additional strikes were reported in Sultanieh and Arzoun, while an air raid on Burj Rahhal in the Tyre district killed three civilians, according to the National News Agency.

In Mount Lebanon, three civilians—including two women—were killed and three others injured after an airstrike struck the hills of Ain Saadeh.

These attacks come amid a broader Israeli military campaign that has intensified since March 2, targeting multiple areas across Lebanon, particularly Bekaa Valley, and Beirut’s southern suburbs.

The escalation coincides with reported attempts by Israeli forces to push toward border areas and occupy villages along the frontier.

In response, Hezbollah has announced a series of operations against Israeli forces along the border, targeting military positions and settlements.

The group stated that it recently struck an Israeli warship located approximately 68 nautical miles offshore as part of what it described as a defensive operation.

The announcement referenced the late Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, recalling a similar strike during the 2006 Lebanon War when an Israeli Sa’ar 5-class warship was targeted.

With civilian areas increasingly affected and casualties continuing to rise, concerns are growing over the humanitarian impact of the ongoing escalation. Medical officials warn that continued strikes on populated areas risk further loss of life and strain on Lebanon’s already fragile healthcare system.

The situation remains highly volatile, with fears that continued escalation could lead to a wider regional confrontation. (ILKHA)