Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon on Sunday morning killed four people and wounded 20 others, according to Lebanese authorities, after Hezbollah launched two explosive drones at Israeli troops operating in the area.

The Israel Defense Forces said one of the drones, which targeted troops operating in the Ali Taher Ridge area, was shot down by troops and that no soldiers were injured in the attack.

The IDF called the drone attack a “blatant violation” of the ceasefire and said it struck Hezbollah infrastructure and operatives in response.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry said two people were killed and two wounded in Nabatieh al-Fawqa, while two women were killed and six people wounded in nearby Arab Salim.

Eight people were wounded in the city of Nabatieh and four in Kafr Rumman, with the ministry saying the toll was provisional and included several women and three children.

Lebanese media reported that one of the Israeli strikes destroyed Ghandour Hospital in Nabatieh al-Fawqa. The facility was empty of patients and staff, and according to the state-run National News Agency, it had been out of service for years.

The Israeli military said Hezbollah had been using the hospital as a command center. The military also said that it had hit a weapon depots and other buildings used by Hezbollah to advance attacks.

The IDF said that recently, Hezbollah operatives involved in “artillery and surveillance” had been operating from the command center at the hospital compound. All of the strikes were carried out to “remove threats,” the military added

Ahead of the strikes, the military issued an “urgent warning” to residents........

© The Times of Israel