First responders and bystanders extinguish flames from a vehicle hit by an Israeli drone strike in the town of Jiyeh, south of Beirut.
At least eight people, including two children, have been killed in a series of Israeli drone strikes targeting vehicles on a major highway linking Beirut to southern Lebanon, according to Lebanon’s Ministry of Health.
Officials say three separate strikes hit cars in the Jiyeh area, about 20 kilometres south of the capital. Images released by Lebanon’s National News Agency showed burnt-out and heavily damaged vehicles scattered along the roadside.
The latest attacks come amid a rapid escalation of cross-border violence between Israel and armed groups operating in Lebanon, raising fears of a wider regional spillover.
Reporting from southern Lebanon, Al Jazeera’s Zeina Khodr said the situation is deteriorating quickly, warning that civilians are bearing the heaviest cost as hostilities intensify.
The Israeli military has not yet commented on the latest strikes. However, it has recently issued repeated evacuation orders for several villages in southern Lebanon, including Meiss el-Jabal, Yanouh, Burj Shemali, Hula, Debl, and Aabbasiyyeh, warning residents to leave immediately ahead of anticipated military action.
Residents were instructed to move at least one kilometre away to what the military described as “open areas,” with warnings that those who remain would be putting their lives at risk. The evacuation alerts have become increasingly frequent in recent days, forcing thousands to flee their homes.
Humanitarian conditions are worsening across southern Lebanon, where hospitals are already under severe strain. Reports indicate that some medical facilities fall within designated evacuation zones, further limiting access to emergency care.
According to local health authorities, only a handful of hospitals remain operational in the affected districts, while more than 100,000 people are still living in the region despite the ongoing violence. Civilians say reaching medical help often involves long and dangerous journeys through active conflict zones.
The latest fatalities add to a growing death toll in the region. Lebanese officials say 13 people were killed in attacks on Tuesday alone, including two emergency responders from the Civil Defence service.
Health authorities report that hundreds have been killed since the current escalation began, with thousands more injured and displaced. Since March, the overall death toll is believed to have surpassed 2,800, including civilians and emergency personnel.
The Lebanese Ministry of Public Health also says more than 100 medical workers have been killed since the conflict intensified, while ambulances and hospitals have repeatedly come under fire.
Aid agencies warn that the crisis is creating a severe humanitarian emergency, with widespread displacement and limited access to food, water, and healthcare across southern Lebanon.
Analysts say continued strikes and evacuation orders are pushing the region closer to full-scale instability, as diplomatic efforts struggle to contain the expanding conflict.
