An Israeli airstrike on a military vehicle in southern Lebanon killed three Lebanese soldiers — a brigadier general, a captain, and a private — as part of a broader wave of strikes that Al Jazeera reported killed 12 people in southern Lebanon that day [1][3][4]. Separately, Israeli troops shot and killed a seven-month-old Palestinian baby in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron after opening fire on his family's car [5][7]. The two incidents occurred against the backdrop of an Israeli ground incursion that has crossed the Litani River and a US-brokered ceasefire framework whose durability is disputed by multiple parties [8][17].
Lebanon's army described the strike as "the continuation of the deliberate and repeated brutal Israeli aggression … aimed at thwarting all efforts to reach a solution" [1]. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called it a "flagrant violation of Lebanese sovereignty and of international laws and norms" [1][10]. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said it was "a heinous crime and an attack on Lebanon and all Lebanese people" [1]. Lebanon's Foreign Ministry submitted a complaint to the UN Security Council documenting more than 2,036 Israeli ceasefire violations over three months, resulting in 331 deaths and 945 injuries [29]. UNIFIL stated that such attacks "constitute gross violations of Lebanon's sovereignty, territorial integrity and Security Council Resolution 1701" [1].
The condemnation extended across the region. Jordan called the strike "a flagrant violation of the sovereignty, security, and stability of brotherly Lebanon" [1]. Qatar termed it a "dangerous escalation and a blatant violation of the sovereignty" and called on Israel to implement Resolution 1701 [1]. Saudi Arabia affirmed "its total rejection of any targeting of Lebanon's sovereignty and its army" [1]. RTVE reported that the Lebanese army is not a direct party to the Israel-Hezbollah conflict, a detail that frames the strike as hitting a neutral state institution [23].
Israel's military said the vehicle was "moving suspiciously towards forces" in "an active and evacuated combat zone" and that troop movements required coordination with the IDF [3]. The military added that it was "operating against the Hezbollah terrorist organisation, not against the Lebanese Army" [3]. France 24 reported that Israel described the strike as an "error" based on a preliminary investigation [24]. Tagesschau reported that the IDF cited intelligence indicating Hezbollah planned to fire from the area [10].
Hezbollah condemned the strike as a "heinous crime" but directed criticism at the Lebanese government itself, accusing it of "complete surrender to the enemy's demands in Washington" [1][4]. Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem rejected the US-backed ceasefire deal, calling talks between Lebanon and Israel "futile" [3]. A Hezbollah official told Novaya Gazeta Europe: "Мы не давали никаких обещаний ни одной из сторон прекратить сопротивление, пока продолжается оккупация" (We made no promise to any side to stop resistance as long as the occupation continues) [8].
A separate fault line runs between Beirut and Tehran. President Aoun said the Lebanese people were "fed up" and blamed Iran for the situation in his country [3]. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded: "Had Lebanon been a bargaining chip for Iran, we'd have a deal long ago. … Save Lebanon from your real foe, Mr President" [1][4]. Hurriyet quoted Araghchi in Turkish: "Avn'ın açıklamalarına bakılırsa, Lübnan'ın beşte birini işgal eden, Lübnanlıların dörtte birini yerinden eden ve ülkesini her gün bombalayanın İran olduğu düşünülebilir" (Based on Aoun's comments, one would think it is Iran that has occupied one-fifth of Lebanon, displaced a quarter of Lebanese, and bombs his country daily) [6]. BBC Persian reported that Iran called the Israeli action a "clear violation of the ceasefire" and asked the United States to stop Israeli aggression [19].
Analyst Belenskaya told Novaya Gazeta Europe: "В последние дни, после того как Трамп заявил о прекращении огня, сигналы тревоги действительно в разы снизились. Но это не значит, что это будет продолжаться долго" (In recent days, since Trump announced the ceasefire, alarm signals have indeed decreased significantly. But that does not mean it will last long) [8]. Israeli opposition leaders also questioned the ceasefire: Yair Lapid said the government's promises had "crashed against the ground of reality," and Avigdor Liberman called the deal a "betrayal" [27]. Deutsche Welle reported that Israel's defence minister announced the destruction of bridges over the Litani River and suggested hundreds of thousands of displaced southern Lebanese would not be allowed to return until northern Israel's security is ensured [26].
The killing of seven-month-old Sam Fahd Abu Haikal in Hebron drew a separate set of competing accounts. His father, Fahd Abu Haikal, a lecturer at Bethlehem University, said: "The soldier signalled me to stop. I brought the car to a complete halt and raised my hands on the steering wheel. Immediately afterwards, they opened fire on the vehicle" [5][15]. He added: "The soldier was about 10 metres away from me. He saw me, he saw my wife and the children. … You can't say he didn't see that it was a family" [5]. The baby's grandmother, Ferial Abu Haikal, said: "One bullet struck my grandson, traversed his face and crossed his head, striking his mother's cheek where it lodged" [7][15].
The IDF stated that troops "perceived a vehicle accelerating toward them" and "responded with single shots toward the vehicle," expressing "deep sorrow for any harm caused to uninvolved individuals" [5]. Rai News reported the IDF described the shooting as a response to a suspected ramming attempt [25]. The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates condemned the killing as a "field execution" and called for international accountability [22]. The British consulate in Jerusalem said it was "shocked and saddened" and called for "an immediate and transparent investigation and accountability" [5]. RFI quoted the UN calling the violence against children in the West Bank "la pire des violences, la violence commise contre les enfants" (the worst of violence, violence committed against children) [9]. Israeli rights group Yesh Din reported that soldiers were indicted in less than one percent of 2,427 complaints of wrongdoing against Palestinians between 2016 and 2024 [5][15].
Striking Gaza displacement camps added a further dimension. An Israeli air attack on a tent camp in Gaza City killed at least seven people, including women and children, according to Gaza Civil Defence [14]; a subsequent RFI report citing Civil Defence put the toll from strikes across the Gaza Strip at ten, including eight killed in a drone strike on the Jawazat displacement camp [13]. Hamas spokesperson Hazam Qassem called it a "horrific massacre" and accused Israel of working to undermine the ceasefire agreement [14]. RFI reported that at least 951 Palestinians have been killed since the Gaza ceasefire began, according to Gaza's Ministry of Health [13].
Hamas is meeting in Cairo to discuss full implementation of the ceasefire [14]. The Israeli military said it has launched internal investigations into both the Lebanon strike and the Hebron shooting [3][5].