Israeli Airstrike in South Lebanon Kills Woman and Three Children; Raises Tensions with Hezbollah

Hezbollah retaliation ensues as civil casualties rise to 14 on Lebanese side; Lebanon to file complaint with the UN asserting Israeli violation of engagement rules.

• An Israeli airstrike in south Lebanon killed a woman and three children, sparking retaliations from Lebanon's Hezbollah and increasing tensions on the Lebanon-Israel border.
• Hezbollah launched multiple Grad rockets at the northern Israeli town of Kiryat Shmona in response to the Israeli attack. One Israeli was also reported killed in a retaliatory strike by Hezbollah, increasing the likelihood of further escalations.
• The victims of the airstrike were from the same family and included three young girls aged 10, 12, and 14. The woman killed was their grandmother. Their mother survived but is severely injured.
• Following the incident, Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib announced that Lebanon would be filing a complaint against Israel to the United Nations, asserting that the airstrike violated rules of engagement.
• Clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah, which have been ongoing for a month along the border, are predicted to escalate following these events. So far, at least 14 civilians have been killed on the Lebanese side and two on the Israeli side, along with seven Israeli soldiers and dozens of fighters with Hezbollah and allied groups in Lebanon.

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