Israel strikes south Lebanon; death toll since March crosses 3,269
Synopsis
Israeli strikes across southern Lebanon on 28 May killed at least two in Deir Aames and prompted evacuation warnings for six towns, while Lebanon's Health Ministry confirmed the cumulative death toll since 2 March has climbed to 3,269. With Hezbollah simultaneously claiming drone and rocket strikes on Israeli forces, the conflict is escalating on multiple fronts — and the civilian cost is accelerating.
Key Takeaways
At least 2 people killed and 1 wounded in an Israeli airstrike on Deir Aames , southern Lebanon, on 28 May .
Lebanon's Civil Defence evacuated 29 civilians trapped in damaged buildings in Doueir and Nabatieh .
The Israeli army issued evacuation warnings for Nabatieh , Kfarhouna , Aaramta , Mlita , Jarjouaa , and Houmine al Fawqa .
Hezbollah claimed it struck an Israeli Merkava tank with a drone and engaged Israeli troops at close range in Zawtar al Sharqiya .
Lebanon's cumulative death toll from Israeli attacks since 2 March stands at 3,269 killed and 9,840 wounded as of 27 May .
At least 7 Palestinians killed and 18 injured in a separate Israeli airstrike on a house in central Gaza City on Wednesday.
At least two people were killed and one more wounded when Israeli warplanes struck Hezbollah sites in the village of Deir Aames in southern Lebanon on 28 May, according to Lebanon's National News Agency. The strikes were part of a broader intensification of Israeli military operations across the south, with evacuation warnings issued for multiple towns and rescue teams scrambling to pull civilians from rubble.
Rescue Operations and Civilian Evacuations
Lebanon's Civil Defence said rescue teams evacuated 29 civilians trapped inside buildings damaged by airstrikes in the towns of Doueir and Nabatieh. The Israeli army subsequently renewed an evacuation warning for residents of Nabatieh and issued fresh warnings covering the towns of Kfarhouna, Aaramta, Mlita, Jarjouaa, and Houmine al Fawqa.
Hezbollah Claims Strikes on Israeli Forces
Hezbollah said its fighters targeted Israeli forces and military positions in Zawtar al Sharqiya in southern Lebanon. The group claimed it struck an Israeli Merkava tank near Bustan Zattam with an attack drone and shelled gatherings of Israeli soldiers and vehicles near Tallet al Khazzan and the town's riverbed using rockets, artillery shells, and heavy rockets.
The group also said its members engaged Israeli forces at close range around 9:00 am at the Scout Complex in Zawtar al Sharqiya using light and medium weapons, reportedly forcing the troops to retreat before Israeli forces launched heavy bombardment on the area.
Airstrikes Near Tyre and Abbasiyeh
Separately, Israeli warplanes launched a second strike on a building in the Mashrouaa al Rouz area at the entrance of Abbasiyeh, north of the coastal city of Tyre, destroying it completely, according to reports. Additional airstrikes targeted Tyre itself and the Rashidieh Palestinian refugee camp south of the city.
Cumulative Death Toll and Gaza Strikes
Lebanon's Health Ministry said the cumulative toll from Israeli attacks since 2 March had reached 3,269 killed and 9,840 wounded as of 27 May. This comes amid a parallel escalation in Gaza, where the Palestine Red Crescent Society said at least seven Palestinians were killed and 18 others injured on Wednesday evening in an Israeli airstrike on a house in central Gaza City. The Israeli military said it had targeted two senior Hamas figures in the strike.
The dual-front military activity marks one of the most intense periods of Israeli operations in both theatres since the current conflict cycle began, with the humanitarian toll continuing to mount on both fronts.
Point of View
269 dead in Lebanon since 2 March is not a single-day spike — it is the slow arithmetic of a sustained campaign, and it is accelerating. What mainstream coverage often flattens is the dual-front nature of this escalation: Israel is simultaneously conducting operations in southern Lebanon and Gaza, stretching humanitarian response capacity across two theatres. Hezbollah's claimed close-range engagement at the Scout Complex, if verified, signals a tactical shift from standoff fire to direct confrontation — which historically precedes a significant escalation in ground activity. The evacuation warnings now covering six Lebanese towns suggest the Israeli military is widening its operational footprint, not consolidating it.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Israeli airstrike on Deir Aames on 28 May?
At least two people were killed and one was wounded when Israeli warplanes struck Hezbollah sites in the village of Deir Aames in southern Lebanon on 28 May, according to Lebanon's National News Agency. The strikes were part of a broader wave of Israeli attacks across the south.
What is the total death toll from Israeli attacks on Lebanon since March 2024?
Lebanon's Health Ministry said the cumulative toll from Israeli attacks since 2 March had reached 3,269 killed and 9,840 wounded as of 27 May. The figures cover strikes across southern Lebanon and other targeted areas.
Which towns received Israeli evacuation warnings on 28 May?
The Israeli army issued evacuation warnings for Nabatieh, Kfarhouna, Aaramta, Mlita, Jarjouaa, and Houmine al Fawqa. Residents of Nabatieh had already received an earlier warning before the expanded list was issued.
What did Hezbollah claim in its counter-operations on 28 May?
Hezbollah said its fighters struck an Israeli Merkava tank near Bustan Zattam with an attack drone and engaged Israeli forces at close range at the Scout Complex in Zawtar al Sharqiya. The group also claimed rocket and artillery strikes on Israeli troop gatherings near Tallet al Khazzan.
Were there simultaneous strikes in Gaza?
Yes. The Palestine Red Crescent Society reported that at least seven Palestinians were killed and 18 injured in an Israeli airstrike on a house in central Gaza City on Wednesday evening. The Israeli military said the strike targeted two senior Hamas figures.
