A teenager has died after an explosion struck an Israeli school trip near the Lebanon border on Monday afternoon. Several other students and staff members also suffered injuries in the incident. Israeli emergency responders rushed to the scene and evacuated victims for urgent medical treatment. The incident happened near the villages of Yiftah and Manara in northern Israel.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said an initial assessment suggested that an unexploded Hezbollah munition caused the blast. However, authorities have yet to establish when the projectile was fired. Photos released by the IDF showed a military helicopter evacuating injured people. Meanwhile, United Hatzalah reported that three people suffered serious injuries. At least 10 others sustained light-to-moderate injuries.
According to the Ma’alot-Tarshiha municipality, students and staff were attending their school’s annual trip when the explosion occurred. Israel’s Ministry of Education described the incident as an “extremely difficult incident, and our thoughts are with the victims and their families.” Israel Police initially suspected an unexploded munition caused the blast. They also sent bomb disposal experts to investigate the scene. In addition, MDA deployed ambulances, mobile intensive care units, and a helicopter. Regional director Itzik Shushan described the incident as a “complex incident.”
The explosion comes amid ongoing tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border. A US-brokered ceasefire in late June aimed to end months of fighting in southern Lebanon. The agreement also planned for the Lebanese military to deploy and Israeli forces to withdraw gradually. However, progress has largely stalled despite Israel withdrawing from two small areas along the so-called yellow line. Israel has also continued regular strikes in southern Lebanon. Its military says it wants to remove Hezbollah from the territory. The latest incident highlights the continuing dangers facing communities near the conflict zone.
