Israeli drone strike kills 5, including 4 Americans

An Israeli drone strike in the southern Lebanese town of Bent Jbeil killed five people, including three children. Four of the dead were Americans. At least two others were injured in the incident. The three children killed in the attack, Selin, Hadi and Asil, and their father were American citizens. The children's mother was seriously injured.

Al Jazeera, citing the Lebanese Health Ministry, reported that a motorcycle and a car were targeted in the attack on Sunday. The state news agency NNA reported that two others were injured.

Israel claimed that a Hezbollah member was killed in the attack. However, it acknowledged that civilians were also killed. Israel often attacks Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon. Tel Aviv claims that these measures are to prevent the Iran-backed organization from building up new military power. The last war killed a large part of Hezbollah's top leadership, including longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah.

After the attack, Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri asked, "Are the children of Lebanon creating an existential crisis for Israel? Or is the killing of civilians without accountability the real threat to international peace and security?"

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam called the attack a "new massacre" and said it was a brutal crime. The attack was carried out to intimidate people returning to their villages in the south. He called on the international community to strongly condemn Israel.

Meanwhile, Lebanese Labor Minister Mohammed Haider accused Israel of deliberately targeting civilians. In his words, "This plan will not succeed because the will of the people of the south is stronger than the power of the criminals."

On the other hand, anti-Hezbollah groups, including the United States and Saudi Arabia, have long been pressuring the organization to disarm. Earlier this month, the Lebanese army presented the government with a plan to disarm Hezbollah. However, Hezbollah has made it clear that it will not surrender its weapons because of Israel's continued attacks and occupation of parts of southern Lebanon.