JERUSALEM

Nine people were killed Monday, including three medics, in Israeli strikes targeting towns in southern Lebanon, according to Lebanese authorities.

One person was killed when an Israeli airstrike targeted a house in the village of Kfar Sir, the state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported.

When an ambulance belonging to the Islamic Health Authority arrived at the site, Israeli aircraft bombed the same location again, killing two paramedics and injuring another, the agency said.

Israeli fighter jets also struck the town of Qantara in Marjayoun district, killing four people, including two children, according to a preliminary toll released by Lebanon’s Health Ministry.

NNA also reported that the Israeli army imposed movement restrictions in villages and towns in Bint Jbeil district by targeting several secondary roads connected to main routes, particularly in the Wadi al-Hujeir area.

Later in the evening, NNA said an Israeli airstrike targeted a residential apartment in a building near Jabal Amel Hospital at the intersection of the town of Maarakeh in Tyre, killing one person and injuring five others.

In a separate attack, the agency reported that an Israeli strike targeted an ambulance in the town of Yater, killing one paramedic.​​​​​​​

Earlier Monday, Israeli warplanes attacked the area near Abu al-Fadl al-Abbas Mosque in the Old Saraya neighborhood of Nabatieh, causing significant damage, the agency said.

Additional airstrikes targeted the area between the towns of Yater and Beit Lif, as well as the towns of Khiam and Sultaniyah, according to Lebanese media.

Monday’s attacks came two days after Israel warned that it could target medical facilities and ambulances in Lebanon, alleging they were being used by the Hezbollah group for military purposes.

On Saturday, Israeli attacks targeted a health care center in southern Lebanon, killing 12 medical personnel, including doctors, paramedics and nurses.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed early Monday that the army has begun a ground offensive in Lebanon.

The Israeli army expanded airstrikes across Lebanon, including the capital Beirut, on March 2 following a cross-border attack by Hezbollah amid regional escalation in the wake of a joint offensive by the US and Israel against Iran.

Lebanese health authorities said the Israeli attacks have killed at least 886 people, including 67 women and 111 children, wounded 2,141 others and displaced more than one million people.

Israel occupies areas in southern Lebanon, some of them for decades and others seized during the most recent war between October 2023 and November 2024.

*Writing by Lina Altawell and Rania Abushamala in Istanbul