The death toll among Lebanese soldiers in Israeli airstrikes has risen to 41 following an attack on an army base in southern Lebanon. Three soldiers were killed, and at least 17 civilians injured, when Israeli forces targeted a military facility in the town of Sarafand on Tuesday, according to Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health and the Lebanese military.
“The Israeli enemy targeted an army center in the town of Sarafand in the south, which led to the martyrdom of three soldiers,” the Lebanese military stated on social media. This latest incident adds to the escalating toll of casualties in Lebanon since October 2023, when clashes between Hezbollah and Israel reignited. The Lebanese Health Ministry reports 3,544 deaths and over 15,000 injuries across the country during the ongoing conflict.
Prior to the Sarafand attack, Lebanese military spokesperson Fadi Eid reported that 38 soldiers had been killed in Israeli strikes since the conflict began. The Israeli military has yet to comment on the deaths of Lebanese soldiers, who have been providing security and engaging in search and rescue operations amid the intensified fighting.
The violence also extended to Mari in southeastern Lebanon’s Hasbaiyya province on Sunday, where an Israeli airstrike killed two soldiers and critically injured three others. In response to these repeated attacks, Lebanon’s government announced plans to file a formal complaint with the United Nations Security Council, accusing Israel of violating international law.
The conflict’s impact is also being felt by the UN peacekeeping mission, UNIFIL, stationed in southern Lebanon. On Tuesday, Italy’s Ministry of Defence reported that eight rockets hit the headquarters of the Italian contingent in Chama. While no injuries were reported, five soldiers are under medical observation. In nearby Ramyah, four Ghanaian peacekeepers were injured when a rocket struck their base, reportedly fired by non-state actors within Lebanon.
UNIFIL has faced increasing challenges, with more than 20 peacekeepers injured and several bases damaged by Israeli strikes in the past two months. Israel alleges that UNIFIL facilities are being used to shield Hezbollah fighters, a claim UNIFIL denies. Amid these pressures, Argentina announced its decision to withdraw its peacekeeping personnel from Lebanon.
The intensifying violence underscores the volatile situation in southern Lebanon, as civilians, soldiers, and peacekeepers alike bear the brunt of the conflict. As diplomatic tensions rise, the humanitarian toll continues to grow, with no immediate resolution in sight.
