An explosion was heard in the city before a vehicle was seen engulfed in flames, according to an AFP correspondent at the scene. Emergency responders and firefighters rushed to the area, where rescuers were observed pulling two people from the targeted car.

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported that the incident involved “an enemy strike on a car” in the center of Sidon. No immediate information was released regarding casualties or the identities of those inside the vehicle.

Sidon, a major commercial and population center on Lebanon’s Mediterranean coast, has been comparatively less affected than other parts of southern and eastern Lebanon that have experienced repeated Israeli strikes since the escalation of hostilities involving the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement and Israel.

The city hosts the country’s largest Palestinian refugee camp and has also received large numbers of people displaced by ongoing conflict in southern Lebanon.

The strike was the latest reported attack on Sidon after an Israeli strike on a building in the city on May 28 killed five people, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.

Separately on Wednesday, the Israeli military said its forces operating in southern Lebanon detained two individuals who approached troops in the area.

In a statement, the military said soldiers identified two “suspected individuals” near positions where Israeli forces were operating. The individuals were apprehended and transferred to Israel for questioning after troops moved to eliminate any potential threat.

The military did not provide further details regarding the identities of the detainees or the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The developments underscore continuing security tensions along the Israel-Lebanon frontier, where military activity and cross-border hostilities have persisted despite international calls for de-escalation.

In a statement posted on Telegram, the Israeli military said it had monitored two armed individuals located hundreds of meters from Israeli territory in southern Lebanon before targeting them in an aerial strike.

“A short while ago, IDF surveillance identified two armed individuals moving in a suspicious manner hundreds of meters from Israeli territory, in southern Lebanon,” the military said, adding that the individuals were subsequently “struck and eliminated.

”The incident comes as tensions remain high along the Israel-Lebanon border despite a truce that was extended by Israeli and Lebanese authorities last week.Since the ceasefire took effect on April 17, Israel has continued conducting airstrikes, demolitions and evacuation measures in southern Lebanon, saying its operations target Hezbollah positions and activities.

Hezbollah, backed by Iran, has also continued attacks against Israel.The latest phase of fighting intensified after Hezbollah launched rockets into Israel on March 2, describing the attack as retaliation for the killing of Iran’s supreme leader in joint U.S.-Israeli strikes.Israel responded with extensive airstrikes and a ground offensive in southern Lebanon.

Israeli forces continue to operate inside a self-declared security zone, referred to by the military as a “yellow line,” extending roughly 10 kilometers inside Lebanese territory along the border.According to Lebanon’s health ministry, Israeli attacks have killed at least 3,089 people since the broader regional conflict began. Israel’s military has reported 22 military fatalities during the fighting.

The current truce was extended by 45 days following a third round of direct talks between Lebanese and Israeli representatives in Washington. Hezbollah has publicly opposed the negotiations.

The strike highlights the fragility of the ceasefire and the continuing risk of escalation along one of the Middle East’s most volatile frontiers.

In a statement posted on Telegram, the Israeli military said it had monitored two armed individuals located hundreds of meters from Israeli territory in southern Lebanon before targeting them in an aerial strike.

“A short while ago, IDF surveillance identified two armed individuals moving in a suspicious manner hundreds of meters from Israeli territory, in southern Lebanon,” the military said, adding that the individuals were subsequently “struck and eliminated.”

The incident comes as tensions remain high along the Israel-Lebanon border despite a truce that was extended by Israeli and Lebanese authorities last week
Since the ceasefire took effect on April 17, Israel has continued conducting airstrikes, demolitions and evacuation measures in southern Lebanon, saying its operations target Hezbollah positions and activities. Hezbollah, backed by Iran, has also continued attacks against Israel.

The latest phase of fighting intensified after Hezbollah launched rockets into Israel on March 2, describing the attack as retaliation for the killing of Iran’s supreme leader in joint U.S.-Israeli strikes.

Israel responded with extensive airstrikes and a ground offensive in southern Lebanon. Israeli forces continue to operate inside a self-declared security zone, referred to by the military as a “yellow line,” extending roughly 10 kilometers inside Lebanese territory along the border.

According to Lebanon’s health ministry, Israeli attacks have killed at least 3,089 people since the broader regional conflict began. Israel’s military has reported 22 military fatalities during the fighting.

The current truce was extended by 45 days following a third round of direct talks between Lebanese and Israeli representatives in Washington. Hezbollah has publicly opposed the negotiations.

The strike highlights the fragility of the ceasefire and the continuing risk of escalation along one of the Middle East’s most volatile frontiers.

The high-level statement came just days after Israel launched preemptive strikes on Iranian military installations—an operation it claims was aimed at preventing Tehran from advancing toward nuclear weapon capabilities. Iran responded with retaliatory attacks, triggering a new phase in the already volatile regional dynamics since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023.

“We affirm that Israel has a right to defend itself. We reiterate our support for the security of Israel,” read the G7 communiqué, which also emphasized that “Iran is the principal source of regional instability and terror.”

The leaders of the G7—comprising the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, and Japan—also reiterated a critical demand: “Iran can never be allowed to possess a nuclear weapon.”

Rising Death Toll and Escalation Fears

The conflict has already resulted in tragic civilian casualties. Iranian sources report over 220 deaths, including women and children, while Israel has confirmed 24 civilian fatalities. Both sides have accused each other of targeting civilian infrastructure, heightening fears of further escalation.

On Monday, an Israeli airstrike reportedly targeted Iran’s state broadcaster headquarters, intensifying panic among Tehran’s residents. U.S. President Donald Trump, attending the G7 summit in Canada, abruptly announced his early departure to return to Washington, citing the urgent regional developments.

In a social media post, Trump warned: “Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran.”

U.S. Stance: Awareness Without Involvement?

While the United States has publicly distanced itself from direct involvement in the Israeli operations, Trump admitted that Washington had prior knowledge of the strikes and called them “excellent.” Nevertheless, the U.S. has issued stern warnings to Iran not to retaliate against American personnel or assets stationed in the region.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a series of calls with foreign counterparts in Europe to coordinate diplomatic responses and assess regional fallout. Despite the heated tensions, Washington maintains that it still seeks a nuclear agreement with Iran—underscoring the fragile balance between deterrence and diplomacy.

Nuclear Standoff: Two Realities

Iran has long denied ambitions to build nuclear weapons, insisting its nuclear activities are for peaceful energy purposes as permitted under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), to which it is a signatory.

In contrast, Israel—while not a party to the NPT—is widely believed to possess an undeclared nuclear arsenal. It neither confirms nor denies this status, maintaining a policy of strategic ambiguity.

Call for Regional De-escalation and Gaza Ceasefire

Beyond the immediate hostilities between Israel and Iran, the G7 emphasized the need for a broader ceasefire across the Middle East, including Gaza.

“We urge that the resolution of the Iranian crisis leads to a broader de-escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, including a ceasefire in Gaza,” the statement read.

The G7 also expressed readiness to collaborate in ensuring energy market stability, amid concerns that the conflict could disrupt global oil supply lines and inflate prices.

As tensions remain high, international observers warn that without swift and strategic diplomacy, the Israel-Iran showdown could spiral into a multi-front conflict with far-reaching global implications.