Lebanon says Israeli strikes on south kill eight

BEIRUT: Lebanon said Israeli strikes killed eight people, including a child, in southern districts on Friday, with Hezbollah saying the other seven dead were fighters.

It was one of the highest single-day tolls for the Iran-backed group since it began exchanging cross-border fire with Israel in support of its ally Hamas after the Palestinian militant group’s October 7 attack on Israel sparked the Gaza war.

The health ministry said an “Israeli enemy drone strike” killed two people including a “seven-year-old” in Aita al-Jabal, and that other “Israeli” strikes killed six people in four other places in the south.

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said a “hostile drone” targeted a house in Aita al-Jabal with “two guided missiles”. Hezbollah said seven of its fighters had been killed by Israeli fire.

The group claimed 13 attacks on Israeli positions through the day, including several “rocket salvos”.

The Israeli military said between 90 and 100 projectiles were identified crossing from Lebanon into northern Israel, some of which were intercepted.