Four Lebanese Civilians Reported Killed in Israeli Attack on House in Village of Houla

Couple, son among the slain in attack on family home

Israel continued escalating strikes against southern Lebanon today, hitting a three-story house in the southern village of Houla. Initially, a couple and their 25-year-old son were reported killed, but  subsequent reports said four members of the same family were killed in the attack.

Israel noted the attack on Houla, but did not address the civilian casualties inflicted, arguing only that they were targeting buildings used by Hezbollah in the village.

Hezbollah responded to the attack by firing 30 rockets at the Israeli town of Kiryat Shmona. Israeli military sources said roughly 10 of the rockets were successfully intercepted by Iron Dome. No casualties or even damage was reported.

Hezbollah said they also fired “dozens” of rockets against the kibbutz of Kfar Blum as well as various military positions. So far, there have been no reports of casualties or damage inflicted.

Israel reported attacking the border town of Bint Jbeil, also in southern Lebanon, but no casualties were reported. Most Israeli attacks have been presented as targeting the source of Lebanese fire.

The attacks come just a day after Israel killed three rescue workers in southern Lebanon. The rescue workers were affiliated with al-Hayaa, a Hezbollah-affiliated civil service organization. This brought the number of rescue workers and paramedics killed over the course of Israel’s attacks since October 7 to seven.

Israel is facing a growing push from the international community to accept a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, and Hezbollah says they would comply with such an effort and would enact a ceasefire from Lebanese territory as well.

Israeli intentions are less clear. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant says that the plan is to use the ceasefire as an opportunity to increase the number of attacks against southern Lebanon, with an eye toward forcing Hezbollah away from the border.

The Lebanese PM, Najib Mikati, says talks aimed at ending the fight along the Lebanon-Israeli border will be held in Ramadan. Ramadan begins on Sunday, March 10.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.