07 March,2026 08:04 PM IST | Beirut | mid-day online correspondent
Smoke billows following an Israeli airstrike targeting an area in the southern coastal city of Tyre, Lebanon, on Saturday. Pic/AFP
At least 41 people were killed and 40 others wounded in overnight Israeli airstrikes on the eastern Lebanese town of Nabi Chit and nearby areas, news agency AP reported, quoting Lebanon's Health Ministry on Saturday.
The strikes came after intense clashes erupted overnight when an Israeli force reportedly landed in the area and engaged in fighting with local gunmen.
The Lebanese army said three of its soldiers were among those killed.
According to Israeli officials, the operation was aimed at gathering information about Israeli navigator Ron Arad, who went missing after his fighter jet crashed in Lebanon nearly 40 years ago. However, the Israeli military later said Arad's remains were not found.
Meanwhile, Lebanon's health ministry said Israeli attacks across the country have killed nearly 300 people since Monday, when the latest escalation in the conflict with Hezbollah began.
In a statement, the ministry said the death toll had risen to 294, with 1,023 people injured since the start of the Israeli strikes earlier this week.
Israel's military on Saturday also issued fresh evacuation warnings for residents in parts of southern Lebanon, including areas of the coastal city of Tyre, news agency AFP reported.
The military said it would soon target what it described as "military infrastructure belonging to the Hezbollah terrorist organisation" in the Zuqaq al-Mafdi area.
Residents living south of the Litani River were urged to move north immediately, repeating an earlier warning issued this week, AFP reported.
"Strikes are ongoing as the army is operating with great force in the area," the Israeli military said, adding that civilians should leave the area for their safety.
Many residents in predominantly Shia villages in southern Lebanon have already fled north following earlier warnings.
The escalation comes after Israel deployed ground troops and intensified airstrikes in Lebanon earlier this week, following attacks on Israel by Hezbollah in support of its ally Iran after US-Israeli strikes on the Islamic Republic.
Hezbollah on Saturday also warned residents in parts of northern Israel that it planned to launch strikes on the area.
(With AP and AFP inputs)
