Israeli strike near Lebanon’s Tyre kills two, wounds 20

An Israeli strike on a building east of Lebanon’s port city of Tyre killed two women and wounded at least 20 other people, some critically, Lebanese media have reported.

The Israeli strikes targeted the building in the town of Jennata late on Thursday.

One of those killed has been identified as Sally Sakiki, a Lebanese nurse, with many people paying tribute to her online. The second woman killed was identified as Dalal Ezzedine.

Lebanon’s Al Mayadeen news outlet reported that the casualty toll is not final, and that rescue teams are still on the site looking for survivors under the rubble.

L'Orient Le Jour reported that the attack caused the highest number of injuries in Lebanon since fighting started between Hezbollah and Israel last October.

Israeli news site Haaretz reported that when asked about the attack, the Israeli military said it was looking into it.

Video footage of the attack shows a large explosion and fires breaking out, with ambulances rushing to the scene.

Lebanese news outlet An-Nahar said several drones were seen above the building during the attack.

🚨 🇱🇧 #Breaking: Massive explosion heard across south Lebanon. Initial reports indicate an Israeli airstrike targeted a residential building in Janata, near Tyre. #Lebanon #Israel pic.twitter.com/sMDaFCKQP0

— Ali Hashem علي هاشم (@alihashem_tv) June 13, 2024

The attack came shortly after Hezbollah claimed they launched rockets towards Israeli military sites in a coordinated attack on the country’s north early on Thursday.

The group said they had ramped up attacks in retaliation to an earlier Israeli strike on Tuesday that killed a senior Hezbollah field commander.

A security source in Lebanon said it was the largest attack launched by Hezbollah since October, when the group first started exchanging fire with Israel amidst the ongoing war on Gaza.

Israeli strikes have killed over 300 Hezbollah members in Lebanon, and around 80 civilians.