Israeli Airstrikes Target Nabatieh City and Meifdoun Town in Southern Lebanon

Israeli warplanes carried out fresh airstrikes on the city of Nabatieh and the nearby town of Meifdoun in southern Lebanon on Monday, intensifying a campaign of aerial bombardment that has repeatedly struck civilian-populated areas across the south of the country.

The strikes on Nabatieh, one of the largest cities in southern Lebanon and a historic centre of commerce and administration in the region, mark another escalation in a pattern of Israeli military operations that have targeted populated areas well beyond the immediate border zone. Meifdoun, a town in the Nabatieh district, was also struck in the same wave of attacks, according to reports from Al Jazeera's live broadcast channel.

No immediate casualty figures were available at the time of publication. Emergency services and civil defence teams were reported to have been deployed to the affected areas as residents fled the targeted neighbourhoods.

The strikes come amid an ongoing Israeli military campaign in Lebanon that has drawn widespread international condemnation. Southern Lebanon has borne the brunt of the bombardment, with towns, villages, and infrastructure across the Nabatieh and Tyre governorates repeatedly struck over recent months. The assault has displaced hundreds of thousands of Lebanese civilians and caused extensive destruction to residential buildings, roads, and public facilities.

Qatar has consistently called for an immediate ceasefire and the protection of civilians in Lebanon, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterating Doha's position that all parties must uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law. Qatar's diplomatic engagement in the region, including its longstanding role as a mediator in complex conflicts, has placed Doha at the forefront of international efforts to halt the violence and facilitate dialogue.

The Gulf Cooperation Council has echoed similar concerns, with member states calling on the international community to pressure Israel to halt its military operations and allow humanitarian corridors to function without obstruction.

The United Nations has warned that the scale of destruction in southern Lebanon risks long-term destabilisation of the country, which was already grappling with a severe economic crisis and political paralysis before the latest round of hostilities began. Aid agencies operating in Lebanon have reported significant difficulties accessing affected communities due to active bombardment and damaged road networks.

International pressure on Israel to agree to a lasting ceasefire has so far failed to produce a halt to the military campaign. Diplomatic efforts continue at the United Nations and through intermediary states, including Qatar, which has engaged with multiple parties in an effort to broker a durable halt to hostilities and pave the way for political negotiations.