Israeli Strikes Kill 11 in Ansar and Deir al-Zahrani — Deadliest Since June Ceasefire

Around 2:30am, Hezbollah launched an explosive drone at IDF troops of the elite Yahalom combat engineering unit stationed on the Ali al-Taher Ridge inside the Yellow Line security zone, seriously wounding three soldiers. In retaliation, Israeli warplanes struck a house in the village of Ansar, killing 7 people including 3 children and 2 women, and a second strike hit Deir al-Zahrani, killing 4 and wounding 17 more (11 women, 1 child among the wounded) — 19 wounded across both strikes. Israel said the strikes hit a Hezbollah Radwan Force headquarters and killed commander Ali Samir al-Haj Hassan; it later acknowledged civilian casualties, accusing Hezbollah of 'deliberately putting civilians' in the compound as family members of the targeted commander. It was the deadliest single day in south Lebanon since the sides agreed to a ceasefire framework in June 2026. PM Nawaf Salam said responsibility for any military infrastructure on Lebanese soil belongs 'exclusively' to the Lebanese state; President Aoun said the strike sent 'a clear message' about the US-backed negotiating process.