Eight Killed in Israeli Drone Strikes on Beirut Highway

Israeli drone strikes targeted vehicles on a coastal highway south of Beirut, killing eight people, including two children, in a significant escalation beyond the main southern conflict zone. The attack, occurring near Jiyeh approximately 20 kilometers from the capital, involved three separate airstrikes and follows similar incidents in the area earlier in the week. While the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have not immediately commented, the strike highlights ongoing tensions as ceasefire negotiations are set to resume in Washington under US State Department oversight. Hezbollah remains opposed to formal talks between Israel and Lebanon. Concurrently, the IDF has issued forced displacement orders for residents of six villages in southern Lebanon, warning that staying puts lives at risk. Reports indicate that at least 380 people have died during the current truce period, bringing the total death toll since the conflict began in March to over 2,800. Iran continues to insist that the Lebanon conflict be included in any final ceasefire deal with Washington, though talks remain stalled. This event underscores the fragility of the current security situation and the humanitarian crisis affecting civilian populations in both southern and central Lebanon.