17 killed as Israel launches strikes near Beirut, southern Lebanon

Israeli drone strikes on vehicles south of Beirut killed four people on May 9, while a series of airstrikes across southern Lebanon killed at least 13 others, according to Lebanese state media and the health ministry.

The attacks marked one of the deadliest days since a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took effect on April 17.

Two of the drone strikes hit vehicles on the highway linking Beirut and the southern port city of Sidon, while a third struck a road leading to the Chouf region, the state-run National News Agency reported.

In southern Lebanon, the health ministry said an Israeli strike on the village of Saksakiyeh killed at least seven people, including a child, and wounded 15 others.

Additional strikes killed three people in Bourj Rahhal, one in Maifadoun, and a Syrian man and his 12-year-old daughter in Nabatiyeh, according to Lebanese officials.

The Israeli military said Hezbollah fired explosive drones into northern Israel, wounding three soldiers, one of them seriously.

Hezbollah said it carried out several attacks on Israeli military positions in Lebanon and northern Israel.

The latest escalation came days after Israel struck Beirut’s southern suburbs for the first time since the ceasefire, killing what it said was a senior Hezbollah commander.

A new round of US-mediated talks between Israel and Lebanon is scheduled to begin in Washington next week.