Israeli strike kills father, son and daughter, returning to Qlayaa after university exams
A strike on a car on the Khardali road in south Lebanon killed a man, his son and his daughter, who were students, as he drove them back from university exams in Beirut to the southern border village Qlayaa, where some residents were still holding out despite Israeli evacuation orders.
Theodosia Karam, the daughter, had exams at the Lebanese University in Hadath and left with her father and brother after Israel threatened Beirut's southern suburbs. They drove to their hometown, Qlayaa.
Lebanon's State-run National News Agency reported Tuesday that an Israeli drone strike hit a car on the road linking the southern town of Marjayoun with the city of Nabatiyeh, killing James Karam, a dentist from the nearby Christian town of Qlayaa, along with his daughter and son. The Lebanese army said two soldiers were lightly wounded when a separate drone targeted them on a road outside the city.
A drone strike on the village of Jibshit killed two Syrians who worked at a plant nursery, the agency reported, while another on the nearby village of Toul killed two people. A third strike hit a car near the village of Harouf, killing one person.
NNA also reported that an Israeli airstrike on Monday killed six in the southern village of Marwaniyeh.
Israel and Hezbollah clashed overnight into Tuesday despite U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement that both sides had agreed to halt fighting ahead of U.S.-hosted talks between Israel and Lebanon on Tuesday.
- Washington talks -
The Israel-Lebanon talks that began in April in Washington were the first in more than three decades between the countries, which have no formal diplomatic relations.
Beirut is still committed to holding talks to end the conflict despite the boiling tensions, said a Lebanese diplomatic official who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi asserted Monday that any ceasefire agreement between Washington and Tehran is a “ceasefire on all fronts, including Lebanon."
“Its violation on one front is a violation of the ceasefire on all fronts," Iran's top diplomat said in a post on X.
- Israel orders strikes on Beirut suburbs -
Trump's comments emerged after Israel’s government ordered strikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut and as Hezbollah fired rockets at northern Israel, including the outskirts of the coastal city of Haifa.
A joint statement by Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the orders followed what they called repeated violations of the ceasefire by Hezbollah and “attacks against our cities and citizens.”
The Israeli military's Arabic spokesman later posted on X that residents should leave the suburbs, adding that if Hezbollah continues attacking Israeli communities, Israel will launch attacks on the Beirut area of Dahieh, where Hezbollah enjoys wide support.
After Monday's warning, large numbers of people were seen fleeing Dahieh, jamming roads leading out of the area.
Mohammed Farhat, 23, fled with his brother and parents from Beirut’s southern suburb of Haret Hreik and was heading with his mother on a motorcycle to stay with relatives in another neighborhood.
“We are worried. I am used to it but left for my parents,” the university student said.
Beirut has been mostly spared from airstrikes since the ceasefire went into effect, apart from two targeted attacks on the city's southern suburbs in May.
Saudi Arabia condemned Israel’s attacks on Lebanon, saying it “categorically rejects” Israel’s movement into the small Mediterranean nation. The Saudi Foreign Ministry called on the international community to prevent Israel from going deeper into Lebanon.
Lebanese parliament chief Nabih Berri, a key Hezbollah ally, said in a statement Sunday that he could guarantee the militant group’s “full, comprehensive and immediate commitment to a ceasefire.” Berri added: “But who will force Israel to stop its aggression?”
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Monday that his government continues work to end “the suffering of the Lebanese in general and the southerners in particular.” Later, he issued a statement reiterating Beirut's commitment to negotiations, saying they are “safer” than war."
Source: Naharnet, Agence France Presse, Associated Press
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