Husband and wife killed by air strikes on southern Lebanon

An elderly couple were killed in overnight Israeli air strikes between the towns of Siddiqine and Kafra in southern Lebanon.

Local media outlets identified the couple as Hussein Hamdan and his wife Manar Abadi. They were both from Kafra.

Another 14 people were injured in three Israeli air strikes in the area between Wednesday and Thursday, Lebanon’s state-run National news agency reported.

According to local reports, the Israeli air strikes destroyed a two-storey house.

They also damaged neighbouring houses in Siddiqine.

The Israeli army said it carried out air strikes on Hezbollah positions in Kafra and Siddiqine.

It said that its troops also carried out artillery shelling near Houla.

Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah began launching attacks across the border into Israel on October 8, a day after the Israeli military started its offensive against Hamas in Gaza.

Most of the attacks between the powerful and heavily armed Lebanese militia and Israeli forces have taken place close to the border.

However, in recent weeks, Israel has struck farther into Lebanese territory.

On Monday, air strikes hit the north-eastern Lebanese city of Baalbek, which is about 75km from the border, showing Israel’s willingness to engage in a broader conflict to push Hezbollah away from the contested border.

The Baalbek strike was the deepest Israeli attack on Lebanon since the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war.

Hezbollah has refused to negotiate on an end to the clashes as long as Israel’s war in Gaza continues.

However, a ceasefire in Gaza could prompt Israel to turn its attention to Lebanon, military and security officials in both countries have warned.