Iran has strongly condemned Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon that killed at least 11 people, including three children, accusing Israel of violating international law and criticising what it described as continued silence and inaction by the United Nations Security Council. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei condemned Saturday's attacks and reiterated Tehran's support for Lebanon's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. The strikes were the deadliest Israeli attacks in Lebanon since a truce framework reached in June significantly reduced fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. Lebanese authorities said the casualties included civilians, while homes and other structures were destroyed in several areas.
Baghaei expressed regret over what Tehran described as the international community's failure to respond effectively to repeated Israeli military operations in Lebanon.
He particularly criticised the UN Security Council over its response to what Iran considers violations of international law and international humanitarian law.
Iran, Baghaei said, stood in solidarity with the Lebanese government and people in their efforts to defend the country's sovereignty, independence and dignity.
The statement came as Lebanon dealt with the aftermath of strikes across the country's south, including Ansar and Deir al-Zahrani. Israeli forces also carried out attacks around the Ali al-Tahir heights near Nabatieh.
Lebanese officials said seven people were killed when a house in Ansar was struck, while another four were killed in Deir al-Zahrani. Among those killed in Ansar were three children and two women.
Lebanese rescue teams searched damaged buildings for victims following the strikes.
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned the attacks, saying the killing of civilians threatened efforts to restore stability. President Joseph Aoun also criticised the strikes, arguing that they undermined diplomatic efforts underway between Lebanon and Israel.
Israel said its military operations followed a Hezbollah drone attack near the border that wounded three Israeli soldiers.
The Israeli military said its strikes targeted Hezbollah infrastructure and personnel, including commander Ali Samir Al-Haj Hassan. Israel maintained that members of Hassan's family who were killed in the strike were not the intended targets.
The escalation represents a serious test for the fragile arrangements reached in June to reduce hostilities.
The US-brokered framework envisages the disarmament of Hezbollah and a phased Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, although significant disagreements remain over implementation. Hezbollah is not directly participating in negotiations between the Lebanese and Israeli governments and has resisted demands for its disarmament.
Hezbollah has vowed an "appropriate" response to the latest strikes, increasing concerns that the violence could trigger another cycle of retaliation.
The attacks come ahead of another planned round of US-sponsored negotiations between Israel and Lebanon, expected to be held in Rome in early September.
Saturday's deaths have highlighted the fragility of the two-month-old truce at a time when the wider West Asian region remains under severe strain from the US-Iran conflict and continuing tensions involving Israel and Iran-backed groups.