School Books in the Rubble

Israel conducted a wave of airstrikes in south Lebanon killing 12 people including women and children, the Lebanese health ministry said on Monday, in an intensification of violence after a weeks-long lull. Israel's military vowed to continue targeting Hezbollah, accusing the Iran-backed militants of repeated violations of a ceasefire in place since June.

One of the overnight strikes hit a building in the town of Kfar Rumman, killing 11 people, including two children and four women. Another attack in the same town killed a rescuer and wounded another. The rescuer who was killed was just 18 years old, according to his civil defence organisation.

"Since we returned here, we've lived in fear"

An AFP photographer saw the building that was hit in Kfar Rumman had been destroyed, with school books and remnants of furniture strewn across the rubble. Villagers had returned home following the June truce after being displaced by the war.

"Since we returned here, we've lived in fear," Fouad Chakaron told AFP. He insisted the targeted building was inhabited by "peaceful people with no connection to anyone". Neighbours fled after the strike, which also damaged nearby buildings.