Hezbollah: Israel to "pay price" for deadly Lebanon strike

An Israeli airstrike in Nabatieh late on Wednesday killed seven individuals, among them three children. This followed another attack that claimed the lives of a woman and her two children in the village of al-Sawana at the border.

"The enemy will face consequences for these actions," stated Hezbollah politician Hassan Fadlallah. "The resistance will persist in its legitimate right to defend its people." According to the group and security sources, Wednesday's strikes also resulted in the deaths of several Hezbollah fighters, including in Nabatieh.

In response to inquiries about the Nabatieh strike, an Israeli army spokesperson mentioned on Thursday that they are awaiting more details about the event and will provide updates accordingly.

The conflict between Hezbollah, supported by Iran, and Israel is occurring alongside the Gaza war, raising fears of a broader confrontation between these heavily armed foes. Despite both sides stating they do not wish for a full-scale war, the conflict has primarily been restricted to border areas.

A source close to Hezbollah described the Nabatieh attack as an escalation by Israel but noted it still fell within the "rules of engagement" that have informally governed their confrontations.

Israel reported responding to rocket fire from Lebanon that resulted in one Israeli soldier's death and injured eight others in Safed, around 15 km from the border, on Wednesday. Hezbollah has not claimed responsibility for this attack.

Since the Hamas incursion into Israel from Gaza on October 7, which resulted in 1,200 Israeli deaths and the abduction of approximately 250 individuals, Hezbollah has targeted Israeli positions near the border almost daily. Hezbollah asserts its attacks will cease only when Israel stops its offensive in the Gaza Strip, where over 28,000 people have died according to Gaza's health authorities.

Lebanon's civil defense reported three children died in the Nabatieh strike, correcting an earlier statement that four children had died. Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, condemned the strikes and directed his foreign minister to file a complaint with the United Nations Security Council.

The ongoing violence has displaced tens of thousands from both sides of the border. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, in a discussion with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, emphasized his commitment to securing the northern border and the safe return of displaced citizens, through diplomatic or military means.

Fadlallah criticized the recent Israeli strikes, stating, "Such crimes will not secure the north for Israeli settlers or pressure Lebanon into concessions. The only option is to end the massacre in Gaza." In Nabatieh, rescue workers were surveying a damaged building, with ambulances on standby for potential survivors or additional casualties. The conflict has resulted in over 200 deaths in Lebanon, including more than 170 Hezbollah fighters, and casualties among Israeli troops and civilians.