Israeli strikes kill 11 in south Lebanon, officials say

Israeli strikes on Saturday killed 11 people in southern Lebanon, authorities said, as Israel on Sunday named another Hezbollah commander it said was killed and vowed to strike again if threatened.

Israel said the strikes were a response to Hezbollah setting off explosive drones inside a so-called security zone in southern Lebanon, seriously injuring three Israeli troops including an officer.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz wrote on X: “No score will be left unsettled in any arena. We'll defend our soldiers and our civilians with full power.”

The Israeli military identified one of those killed on Saturday as Abu Hassan Alaa, saying he was a senior commander of Hezbollah's Badr unit who had been involved in firing drones at Israeli troops.

Israel earlier said the strike killed Ali Samir Al-Haj Hassan, a commander in Hezbollah's elite Radwan Force. The Israeli military acknowledged that Hassan's family was present but said they were not the target.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said a “whole family” had been killed in the strike in the village of Ansar. Lebanon's health ministry reported that three children and two women died.

Imran Riza, the UN humanitarian coordinator for Lebanon, condemned the strike and said civilians must be protected at all times.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office accused Hezbollah of deliberately placing civilians in harm's way. Hezbollah denied that account and accused Netanyahu of presiding over the killing of Lebanese civilians.

Lebanon and Israel signed a US-brokered deal in June under which Lebanon's army will gradually take over security in southern areas occupied by Israel. Hezbollah has refused to disarm.