Lebanon's health ministry reported on Saturday that an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon resulted in the deaths of nine individuals overnight. The attack targeted the Nabatieh region, about seven miles from the Israeli border, and also left five others injured, including two in critical condition.

The Israeli military confirmed the strike was aimed at a Hezbollah weapons storage facility in the area. This incident adds to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which has intensified since the outbreak of war in Gaza last October.

In a related development, the UN's health agency has requested a seven-day pause in the fighting in Gaza to conduct a vaccination campaign for over 640,000 children against polio. The disease has been detected in Gaza's wastewater.

The conflict has seen significant casualties on both sides. According to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, over 40,000 Palestinians have died and more than 92,000 have been injured since the escalation began. Israeli figures indicate that the Hamas-led attacks on October 7 resulted in the deaths of over 1,190 people, mostly civilians, with around 250 hostages, of which about 120 are still held in Gaza.

The  Israeli airstrike in the Nabatieh region stands as one of the most devastating attacks in southern Lebanon since Hezbollah and Israeli forces began frequent exchanges of fire following the onset of the Gaza Strip conflict in October.

The latest strike resulted in the deaths of a woman and her two children, with five others injured, including two critically, according to a statement from Lebanon's health ministry.

Israeli military sources reported on their Telegram channel that the airstrike targeted a Hezbollah weapons storage facility located approximately seven miles from the Israeli border. Additionally, Israeli artillery struck other locations near the border in southern Lebanon. This follows recent airstrikes on Friday, which targeted Hezbollah military structures near Hanine and Maroun el-Ras in southern Lebanon.

International mediators are actively working to negotiate a ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian Hamas militants in Gaza. Diplomats believe that achieving a ceasefire could help prevent a broader conflict, with Lebanon potentially being drawn into a larger regional war.

This recent airstrike highlights the growing fears of a broader regional conflict, as international mediators continue to work towards a ceasefire in Gaza.

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