Israeli air strikes kill at least one in south Lebanon as evacuation order covers 20 villages
Israeli jets and drones bombed several towns in southern Lebanon on Saturday, killing a local official and wounding a power company worker, after the military told residents of 20 communities to leave, accusing Hezbollah of breaking the fragile ceasefire.
A wave of attacks after evacuation calls
Israeli forces launched a series of air and artillery strikes across southern Lebanon on Saturday, 13 June 2026, hours after ordering the evacuation of around twenty villages in the Nabatieh and Jezzine districts. The Lebanese National News Agency (NNA) reported that Ali Badi, the administrative director of Al Rayan town, was killed in a bombardment on the Jezzine area, one of the regions hit hardest by the morning raids. In the same district, a drone struck an employee of the state electricity company while he was irrigating his crops, wounding him and causing his transfer to hospital.
The Israeli army’s Arabic spokesman, Colonel Avichai Adraee, said the evacuation order was issued because Hezbollah militias had violated the truce. Shortly before the strikes, the military said it intercepted a suspected aerial target that crossed from Lebanese territory into Israel, triggering intrusion alerts in Metula and Misgav Am.
Ceasefire repeatedly breached
A ceasefire was first agreed in April and has been renewed since, yet both sides accuse each other of violations. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for two attacks on Israeli troops and vehicles operating in southern Lebanon. The renewal of hostilities pushed the cumulative death toll in Lebanon since the war erupted on 2 March to more than 3,700 people, according to Lebanese authorities.
The preliminary agreement with the United States envisages an end to the war on all fronts, including Lebanon.
Diplomacy in the background
On the diplomatic front, Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araqchi said a preliminary US-Iran deal is closer than ever and would cover all theatres, including Lebanon. Pakistan’s prime minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Friday that Washington, led by President Donald Trump, and Tehran had agreed to draft an agreement to end the war, with mediators working to finalise details. However, Israel has stated it is not party to those talks, and the continuing demolitions of houses and government buildings in Bint Jbeil are raising fears the military operations could derail the accord.
The country led by Donald Trump and Iran have agreed to draft an agreement aimed at ending their war and mediators are working with both parties to finalise details.
Hezbollah’s silence and ongoing destruction
Hezbollah has not yet publicly commented on the latest Israeli strikes, while its fighters continued to target Israeli positions. The NNA reported artillery fire from various points occupied by Israeli troops inside southern Lebanon. The strikes on Qasiba, Kfarhouna and other towns add to the destruction, complicating the diplomatic push for a lasting truce.
