Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon kill 16; four soldiers reported dead in combat

Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon's Nabatieh district killed at least 16 people in residential areas early Friday, according to Lebanon's National News Agency. The strikes targeted what Israeli sources described as Hezbollah positions across the region. Separately, the Israeli military reported that four of its soldiers were killed in combat operations in southern Lebanon on the same day. The casualties underscore the intensity of recent military operations in the border region, though the Israeli military had not issued a comprehensive official statement detailing the full scope of the strikes as of Friday morning. The reported deaths represent a significant toll from the overnight military action.