Israeli strikes on cars in southern Lebanon kill 12, health ministry says

Two children are among those reported dead after seven cars were struck in separate attacks south of Beirut. Israeli strikes on cars in south Lebanon kill 12, health ministry says Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Three cars were reportedly targeted by Israeli drones on the coastal highway Lebanese rescuers and army soldiers inspect the wreckage of a vehicle that was hit in an Israeli strike in Jiyeh, south of Beirut, Lebanon (13 May 2026) Israeli strikes on cars in southern Lebanon kill 12, health ministry says At least 12 people have been killed in seven separate Israeli air strikes on cars south of Beirut, Lebanon's health ministry says, as the war between Israel and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah continues despite a ceasefire. Eight people, including two children, died when drones targeted three vehicles on the coastal highway in the Barja, Jiyeh and Saadiyat areas, around 20km (12 miles) from the capital, according to the ministry. The others were killed in strikes on four cars further south, in the city of Sidon and the towns of Maaliyeh, Chaaitiyeh and Naqoura. The Israeli military has not yet commented. But it did say Israeli forces struck Hezbollah infrastructure in several southern areas. Hezbollah fighters also launched a number of drones that exploded near an area where Israeli troops were operating in southern Lebanon, it added, without reporting any casualties. On Tuesday, two paramedics from the state-run Civil Defence emergency service were among 13 people killed in strikes in southern Lebanon, according to the Lebanese health ministry. On Tuesday, two paramedics from the state-run Civil Defence emergency service were among 13 people killed in strikes in southern Lebanon , according to the Lebanese health ministry. It says more than 400 people have been killed across the country since the ceasefire was announced by US President Donald Trump almost a month ago. Israel has intensified its air and artillery strikes in recent days, particularly in southern Lebanon, saying it is targeting Hezbollah fighters and infrastructure. Hezbollah has carried out drone, rocket and mortar attacks on Israeli troops occupying parts of southern Lebanon and on communities in northern Israel. On Thursday, Israeli and Lebanese officials are expected to hold a third round of direct talks in Washington to try to find a way to stop the fighting. In a letter released on Tuesday, Hezbollah's leader Naim Qassem dismissed those efforts and said his group would "not abandon the battlefield". The conflict started on 2 March, two days after the US and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran. Hezbollah fired rockets into Israel, and Israel responded with widespread air strikes and a ground invasion of southern Lebanon. The conflict started on 2 March, two days after the US and Israel . Hezbollah fired rockets into Israel, and Israel responded with widespread air strikes and a ground invasion of southern Lebanon. At least 2,896 people have been killed in Lebanon since then, according to the health ministry, whose figures do not distinguish between combatants and civilians. Israeli authorities say 18 soldiers and four civilians have been killed over the same period. Emergency responders inspect the site of an Israeli strike in Saksakiyeh, Lebanon, on 9 May 2026. Emergency service workers outside a damaged building in Beirut Israel strikes Beirut for first time since Hezbollah ceasefire A dual image of a female Hezbollah supporter and an image of the site of an Israeli airstrike Lebanon seeks peace, but Hezbollah needs to be convinced first Eurovision 2026 taking place in Vienna after Austrian singer JJ won the 2025 event. Lebanon's health ministry says the paramedics were carrying out a rescue mission in Nabatieh in response to an earlier attack that killed one person. The most comprehensive report of its kind details harrowing cases of sexual attacks which it says were systematic. Displaced teenagers Farah and Tala wanted to 'turn destruction into something useful'. The US president criticises an Iranian counteroffer to end the war, and says the month-long ceasefire is "unbelievably weak". Ships have rerouted around the Cape of Good Hope since 2023 to avoid conflicts in the Middle East. One restaurant owner said there is "no substitute for Iranian saffron" because of its quality. Iran is reported to want lifting of the US naval blockade, recognition of Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz and compensation for war damage.