The IDF struck a Hezbollah terror headquarters in the Ansar area in southern Lebanon overnight Friday, after terrorists seriously wounded three IDF soldiers in an attack near the Ali al-Taher Ridge.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office specifically mentioned that the initial Hezbollah attacks seriously injured three IDF soldiers.
"This morning Hezbollah violated the ceasefire in Lebanon by attacking our soldiers in the security zone, which protects Israeli communities just across the border. The Hezbollah attack seriously injured three of our soldiers. The IDF responded by striking the Hezbollah terror headquarters that ordered the attack," the PMO said in a statement.
The IDF later said that the three soldiers were wounded by an explosive drone from Hezbollah. They were evacuated to receive medical treatment at a hospital, and their families have been notified.
Additionally, the IDF Spokesperson's Unit and the Prime Minister's Office said in separate statements that civilians were also unintentionally killed in the strike.
The IDF said that its Friday evening strike killed several Hezbollah terrorists, including Ali Samir Al-Haj Hassan, a battalion commander in Hezbollah's Radwan Force unit. However, the military noted that, at the time of the strike, Hassan’s family was with him inside the headquarters.
IDF, PMO says military was unaware of civilians present in Hezbollah HQ during strike
"It should be emphasized that the family members were not the target of the strike. The strike was specifically directed at Hassan, who was a lawful target under international law. The terrorist used his family as human shields, hiding alongside them inside the military headquarters," the IDF wrote in a statement.
The PMO said that it was unaware that Hezbollah put civilians in the Hezbollah military compound.
"Only later did the IDF learn that Hezbollah deliberately put civilians in that military compound. Hezbollah is willing to do anything, including using its own civilians as human shields, to falsely accuse Israel of deliberately targeting civilians, which the IDF clearly did not."
At least 11 people were killed in the strikes, Lebanon's health ministry said.
Lebanon's Aoun, Nawaf say that IDF strikes violate US-backed ceasefire
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned ‘ongoing Israeli attacks’ in southern Lebanon, calling it a ‘violation of the Framework Agreement’ in a post from his office’s X/Twitter account on Saturday morning.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam also responded to the IDF strikes, calling on Israel to "halt its military escalation" in Southern Lebanon in a post to X/Twitter on Saturday morning.
“The responsibility for dealing with any military structures, if they exist on Lebanese territory, lies exclusively with the Lebanese state, through the Lebanese army and its legitimate institutions, and their existence does not grant Israel the right to violate Lebanese territory or endanger civilians.” Salam asserted.
“Israel must halt this escalation. For the security of our people and their right to life on their land are not subject to negotiation or bargaining," he added.
In response to the attacks, Hezbollah said that IDF strikes in southern Lebanon would be "met accordingly."
"This Israeli escalation, through the targeting of civilians and the expansion of the areas being targeted, reflects the desire and intention of the enemy’s criminal prime minister, Netanyahu, to escalate the war in order to bolster his domestic political standing, serve his electoral objectives, and appease the far Right," the terror group wrote in a statement on Telegram.
"The Israeli enemy must understand clearly that its attacks, violations, and attempts to impose a new reality cannot continue and will be met accordingly, in defense of Lebanon, its people, its sovereignty, and its national dignity."
In response to the IDF and PMO's announcements that three soldiers were injured, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee called Hezbollah "pure evil."
Ongoing push for trilateral framework agreement
Negotiations between Israel and Lebanon have remained in a state of flux since the trilateral framework, agreed upon by Israel, Lebanon, and the United States, was signed in June.
The peace agreement, which aims to encourage diplomatic relations between the two neighboring countries, remains uncertain as the IDF continues to maintain its presence in Southern Lebanon, while Hezbollah refuses to disarm.
The Jerusalem Post staff contributed to this report.