Casualties soar due to Israeli air strikes in southern Lebanon... Hezbollah confrontation escalates

(Cairo = Yonhap News) Correspondent Kim Sang-hoon = Amid the standoff between the United States and Iran, casualties are rapidly increasing on the Lebanese front, where Israel and Hezbollah are facing off, as the frequency of airstrikes by the Israeli military increases.

According to the Lebanese Ministry of Health on the 7th (local time), in the early morning of the same day, the Israeli Air Force carried out two airstrikes on the village of Kfar Ruman in southern Lebanon, killing at least 12 people and injuring many others.

The first airstrike hit a residential building, killing 11 people, including two children and four women. Eight people, including three children and one rescue worker, were also seriously injured.

Subsequently, a second airstrike targeting vehicles in the village killed one paramedic who was engaged in rescue operations.

The previous day, at least seven people were killed and an empty hospital completely destroyed by Israeli bombing in southern Lebanon.

With the recent intermittent resumption of armed conflict between the United States and Iran, the risk of all-out war between Hezbollah, Iran's key proxy force, and Israel is also intensifying.

Last June, a basic agreement based on a ceasefire was reached between Israel and the Lebanese government through mediation by the United States, but Hezbollah refuses to disarm on the grounds that it is not a party to the basic agreement, and Israel continues airstrikes, saying it cannot withdraw without complete disarmament.

The Israeli military claimed that this airstrike was justified retaliation for two drone attacks by Hezbollah targeting its soldiers.

In particular, military tensions are rising as large-scale bombing continues right after the Israeli military declared a few days ago that it was operationally controlling Ali Taher Hill, a major passage and strategic point leading to the southern Lebanese city of Nabatiyeh.