An Israeli soldier was killed Monday after a Hezbollah drone struck a military vehicle inside Israeli territory near the Lebanese border, as the Israeli military widened its strikes on southern Lebanon and issued evacuation warnings for nine towns and villages.
Escalation with Hezbollah along the Lebanese borders has continued despite a 10-day ceasefire that began on April 17, later extended to May 17. Israel has continued military operations across the south amid mutual accusations of ceasefire violations.
The Israeli military said Reserve Sgt. First Class Alexander Glovanyov, 47, was killed when a booby-trapped drone exploded near Manara, by the Lebanese border. He was directly struck by one of multiple drones launched from Lebanon into Israel on Sunday, the military added, bringing total military fatalities to 18 since early March.
Hezbollah said it targeted Israeli forces in Taybeh in Nabatieh, striking a unit inside a house in Baydar Al-Faqaani with three successive drones and prompting a helicopter evacuation of the wounded. It also said it fired rockets at Israeli troops and vehicles between Wadi Al-Uyoun and Sarbin, describing the attacks as retaliation for Israeli ceasefire violations and strikes on southern villages.
Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes struck the town of Toul in Nabatieh, along with Yohmor Al-Shaqif, Kfartebnit, and the outskirts of Maytam in Shawkeen. Sporadic artillery fire also hit nearby areas, including Yohmor, Arnoun, Kfartebnit, Al-Nabatieh Al-Fawqa, and Mayfadoun, Al Jazeera reported. The attacks killed four people and wounded eight others, including paramedics.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Monday that the government is documenting Israeli war crimes to submit to the United Nations, and coordinating with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights for an upcoming visit to Lebanon to verify violations.
Information Minister Paul Morcos added that relevant ministries, in cooperation with international institutions including the World Bank, are continuing to assess losses and damages. The overall death toll stands at 2,846 killed and 8,639 wounded.
The Israeli military also notified northern Israeli authorities of an imminent wave of airstrikes expected to last several hours, with explosions anticipated across the Galilee and Hula Valley regions. Evacuation orders were issued for nine villages in southern Lebanon: Rihan, Jarjouaa, Kfarrumman, Al-Numairiyeh, Arabsalim, Al-Jumayjimeh, Mashghara, Qlaya, and Harouf—signaling a significant expansion of military operations.
