Israel carried out extensive strikes across southern Lebanon on Saturday, killing at least nine people and wounding dozens, including children, according to Lebanese authorities. Some of the heaviest bombardment hit the town of Saksakiyeh, while other attacks targeted Nabatieh, Bedias and the Saadiyat highway south of Beirut. The violence marks some of the most intense fighting since a three-week ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed group Hezbollah.

Israel said it struck Hezbollah fighters operating from military sites and reported that several explosive drones were launched into northern Israel, wounding three soldiers. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for drone and rocket attacks against Israeli military positions, saying the strikes were in response to continued Israeli raids. Lebanese officials reported civilian casualties, including a father killed in a drone strike and his injured daughter undergoing surgery.

Under the ceasefire terms released by Washington, Israel maintains the right to act against planned or ongoing attacks and says it has hit dozens of Hezbollah infrastructure sites in recent days. Hezbollah lawmakers warned of 'a new phase' in the conflict, rejecting a return to earlier conditions and criticizing planned talks in Washington. Since early March, nearly 2,800 people have been killed in Israeli attacks on Lebanon, including dozens since the truce began.