Israeli strikes in Lebanon kill 10 as ceasefire tensions rise

Published: 23 May 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

Airstrikes carried out by Israel in southern and coastal areas of Lebanon have killed at least 10 people in a 24-hour period, including six paramedics and a child, according to Lebanon’s health ministry, escalating tensions around an already fragile US-brokered ceasefire. The Lebanese government has condemned the attacks as serious violations of international humanitarian law, while Israel maintains the strikes were aimed at militant infrastructure linked to Hezbollah.

The latest wave of violence unfolded across multiple locations, including the southern towns of Hanaway and Deir Qanoun En-Nahr, as well as areas near Tyre and further north in the Nabi Sreij mountainous region. Local reports described a series of overnight explosions, damaged buildings, and mass evacuations as residents were urged by Israeli military warnings to leave targeted neighbourhoods.

Eyewitness accounts from the coastal city of Tyre described two separate airstrikes within minutes of each other, sending thick smoke into the sky and triggering panic among civilians. Earlier, evacuation orders were broadcast through loudspeakers, instructing residents to move away from identified areas before the strikes began.

According to Lebanon’s health ministry, one of the deadliest incidents occurred in Deir Qanoun En-Nahr, where an airstrike killed six people, including two paramedics and a Syrian child. Another strike in Hanaway reportedly killed four additional medics affiliated with the Islamic Health Association, an organisation operating ambulance and emergency services in southern Lebanon.

The targeting of medical workers has drawn strong condemnation from Lebanese authorities, who say the attacks are part of a pattern of strikes affecting healthcare personnel and infrastructure. Officials argue that repeated incidents involving paramedics and ambulances raise serious concerns under international law, which provides protection for medical staff operating in conflict zones.

The Israeli military, however, stated that the strikes were directed at Hezbollah operatives and infrastructure sites used by the group. In its statement, the military said it had identified militants operating in the areas targeted, including individuals travelling on motorcycles and personnel linked to armed activity. It also acknowledged reports of civilian casualties, saying it was reviewing claims that “uninvolved individuals” may have been harmed and that efforts had been made to reduce civilian exposure through prior evacuation warnings.

The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has intensified in recent months despite attempts to stabilise the situation through a US-mediated ceasefire framework. The truce, which was intended to reduce cross-border escalation following prolonged exchanges of fire, has been increasingly strained by continued strikes and retaliatory actions.

In southern Lebanon, residents described a climate of fear and uncertainty as airstrikes expanded beyond previously targeted zones. In Nabi Sreij, residents reported hearing at least five explosions late on Friday night, marking one of the northernmost strike clusters since the ceasefire was announced. The region had largely been spared earlier in the conflict, raising concerns that the geographical scope of the strikes is widening.

Footage distributed by Lebanon’s health ministry, verified by independent reporting agencies, showed paramedics in reflective vests assisting an injured person on the roadside before a sudden explosion occurs nearby. The individuals appear to be thrown to the ground as an ambulance arrives at the scene. The authenticity of the location was confirmed through cross-referencing building structures and road layouts with archived imagery.

International organisations have expressed alarm over the rising civilian toll. The World Health Organization has previously reported that several hospitals in southern Lebanon have been damaged or forced out of service due to strikes, severely limiting emergency care capacity in affected areas. Humanitarian groups warn that continued targeting of medical infrastructure risks collapsing already strained health services.

Lebanon’s health ministry has released updated casualty figures indicating that more than 3,100 people have been killed since early March, when hostilities escalated further after cross-border fire initiated a broader conflict cycle. Among the dead are 123 medical personnel, 210 children, and nearly 300 women, highlighting the scale of civilian impact reported by officials.

Legal experts and humanitarian observers have pointed to international humanitarian law, which explicitly protects medical workers, ambulances, and healthcare facilities during armed conflict. Any intentional or indiscriminate attacks on such protected entities may constitute serious violations depending on the circumstances and evidence of military necessity.

In Israel, officials continue to argue that Hezbollah operates within civilian areas and uses infrastructure that complicates the distinction between military and civilian targets. They maintain that operational warnings and evacuation notices are issued to minimise civilian harm before strikes are carried out.

The escalation comes at a politically sensitive moment for regional diplomacy. The ceasefire arrangement, brokered with support from the United States, was intended to prevent a wider regional war and stabilise the Israel-Lebanon border. However, repeated violations and mutual accusations of breaches have weakened confidence in the agreement’s durability.

Analysts say the continued cycle of strikes and counterstrikes risks dragging both sides back into a prolonged conflict environment, with civilians bearing the highest cost. The involvement of paramedics in recent fatalities has intensified scrutiny from international bodies, particularly given their protected status under the Geneva Conventions.

As diplomatic pressure mounts, calls are growing for renewed negotiations and independent investigations into incidents involving healthcare workers. However, on the ground, the immediate reality remains volatile, with residents in southern Lebanon facing ongoing uncertainty and the threat of further airstrikes.

The situation underscores the fragile nature of ceasefire agreements in the region and the difficulty of enforcing protections in densely populated conflict zones where militant activity and civilian life are deeply intertwined.