Israeli strike kills five, including three US children, in southern Lebanon

An Israeli drone strike in Bint Jbeil, southern Lebanon, killed five people, including three US citizen children and their father. The incident occurred despite a US-brokered ceasefire.

21 sept 2025 - 23:38 • 2 min read

An Israeli drone strike on the southern Lebanese town of Bint Jbeil on Sunday killed five people, including three children and their father, who held US citizenship. The attack, which also wounded two others, has drawn condemnation from Lebanese officials and highlights ongoing hostilities despite a ceasefire brokered by the United States.

The Lebanese Ministry of Health confirmed the casualties, stating that the strike targeted a motorcycle and a vehicle. The state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported that the three children killed were named Celine, Hadi, and Aseel, and that their mother was among the injured.

The Israeli military stated that its forces targeted a Hezbollah member who was operating from within a civilian area. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) acknowledged that "several uninvolved civilians" were killed as a result of the strike and confirmed that the incident is under review. The IDF maintains it is acting against the Hezbollah organization and will continue to remove any threats to Israel.

Lebanon's Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri questioned Israel's actions, asking if Lebanese childhood posed an existential threat to Israel or if Israel's conduct was the real threat to international peace. Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam described the attack as a "new massacre" and a "blatant crime against civilians," accusing Israel of sending a message of intimidation to residents returning to their villages.

The incident occurred despite a US-brokered ceasefire that took effect in November 2024, intended to end hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. Lebanon's government has stated that Israel's continued strikes undermine efforts to disarm Hezbollah, which insists on retaining its weapons amid ongoing Israeli actions.

In parallel, Israeli strikes also continued in Gaza on Sunday, reportedly killing at least 40 people, including women and children. The intensification of strikes in Gaza City has led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, with aid experts warning of worsening humanitarian conditions.

The international community has urged Israel to halt its campaign in Gaza. The formal recognition of a Palestinian state by Australia, Canada, and the UK on Sunday is seen by many as a rejection of Israel's conduct in the ongoing conflict.