The United Nations' special coordinator for Lebanon has expressed strong disapproval of Israel following airstrikes on municipal structures in the southern city of Nabatieh, which resulted in the deaths of the mayor and 15 other individuals.
Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert characterized the death of Mayor Ahmad Kahil as "alarming" and emphasized that any breaches of international humanitarian law are "entirely unacceptable."
According to Nabatiyeh Governor Howaida Turk, at least five of the deceased were municipal employees engaged in coordinating assistance for civilians still present in the region, as reported by the BBC.
Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, condemned the assault, asserting that it had "deliberately" targeted a council meeting.
This incident marks the most significant attack on a Lebanese state facility since the recent escalation of hostilities, which commenced approximately two weeks ago, raising serious concerns regarding the safety of the nation's state infrastructure.
An Israeli military spokesperson claimed that their forces had conducted operations aimed at numerous Hezbollah targets in the vicinity and had destroyed a tunnel utilized by the Iran-backed organization.
In his remarks at a meeting of the UN in New York City on Wednesday, Israel's UN ambassador Danny Danon said: "We know that Hezbollah many times takes advantage of civilian facilities."