Lebanese authorities have confirmed that 13 people, among them paramedics and civilians, were killed in a series of Israeli air strikes on Monday. The attacks, which targeted areas in southern Lebanon, mark one of the highest single-day death tolls in recent cross-border exchanges between Israel and Hezbollah.

The Lebanese Ministry of Health said the dead included three paramedics from the Islamic Health Authority, a civilian rescue organisation affiliated with Hezbollah. The strikes hit a clinic and several residential buildings in the villages of Houla, Aita al-Shaab and Mays al-Jabal. At least 20 others were wounded, some critically.

Israel’s military said the strikes were aimed at Hezbollah positions, including a “terrorist cell” that had fired anti-tank missiles earlier in the day. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) accused the paramedics of being “operatives of the Hezbollah military wing” and claimed the clinic was used as a command centre. Hezbollah denied the accusation.

Monday’s escalation comes amid a broader regional tension that has seen almost daily exchanges of fire across the Lebanon-Israel border since October last year. Hezbollah opened a “support front” for Hamas following its 7 October attack on Israel. More than 300 people have been killed in Lebanon in the past nine months, mostly fighters but also dozens of civilians.

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) called for de-escalation, warning that the violence threatened to spiral into a wider conflict. “These strikes are a violation of Security Council Resolution 1701,” a UNIFIL spokesperson said. “We urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint.”

The attacks drew international condemnation. The European Union’s foreign policy chief said “indiscriminate targeting of medical personnel is unacceptable.” The United States reiterated its support for Israel’s right to self-defence but urged “proportionality” in responses.

In Beirut, the government of Prime Minister Najib Mikati accused Israel of “deliberate aggression” and said it would file a complaint with the UN Security Council. “This is a clear violation of international law,” a cabinet statement read.

The strikes also damaged a water pumping station serving three villages, according to local officials, raising concerns about humanitarian impact. The Lebanese Red Cross said it was still retrieving bodies from the rubble.

The exchange of fire has displaced tens of thousands on both sides of the border. The current hostilities are the worst since the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah. Analysts say the risk of miscalculation remains high, particularly if Israel expands its operations against Hezbollah’s infrastructure.

Monday’s events underscored how the conflict in Gaza continues to reverberate across the region. With no ceasefire in sight, the prospect of a broader war involving Iran-backed militias remains a persistent concern for diplomats. The UN special coordinator for Lebanon said she was “deeply alarmed” by the escalation and urged “all parties to return to the cessation of hostilities.”

The UK Foreign Office issued a travel advisory warning British nationals to leave Lebanon immediately, citing “the potential for rapid escalation of military activity.” France also advised its citizens to avoid travel to the region.