An Israeli air strike killed seven people in the southern Lebanese village of Ansar on Friday, the country's prime minister confirmed, marking one of the deadliest incidents since a fragile truce with Hezbollah took effect in June.

Among those killed in the strike were three children and two women, state media reports indicated. The attack has drawn sharp condemnation from Beirut, which described the deaths as a grave violation of the ceasefire.

Fatalities Follow Recent Truce

The strike comes months after an agreement was reached in June to de-escalate hostilities between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group. That truce had largely held, despite intermittent exchanges of fire across the border.

The Lebanese Prime Minister, whose name was not immediately released in reports, condemned the strike, reiterating his government's commitment to protecting its citizens and upholding regional stability.

Regional Tensions Persist

The incident in Ansar underscores the persistent volatility in the region, where tensions remain high despite diplomatic efforts to maintain calm. Past conflicts between Israel and Hezbollah have often seen civilian casualties on both sides.

International observers have called for restraint from all parties to prevent further escalation that could destabilise the broader Middle East.