Escalation in Southern Lebanon: Israeli Strikes Claim 11 Lives as Tensions Rise

In a significant uptick of violence, Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon on Saturday resulted in the deaths of at least 11 individuals, marking one of the deadliest incidents since a June agreement aimed at reducing hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. The Israeli military justified the strikes as a response to an earlier attack on its troops attributed to the Iran-backed militant group.

The Lebanese health ministry reported that seven victims, including three children and two women, were killed in the village of Ansar, while four others lost their lives in a separate strike on Deir El Zahrani. These recent attacks have reignited fears in the region, with Hezbollah vowing to retaliate, stating that the assaults would be “met with what they deserve.”

According to the Israeli military, their operations targeted Hezbollah infrastructure, specifically citing a need to respond to actions against their soldiers. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office accused Hezbollah of violating the ceasefire, claiming that the militant group intentionally placed civilians in harm's way by using residential areas for their military objectives.

Lebanon's Prime Minister, Nawaf Salam, condemned the strikes, emphasizing that the victims were not military targets and called for accountability from those overseeing the peace negotiations. Meanwhile, Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, aligned with Hezbollah, urged for national unity and the immediate responsibility of peace sponsors to avert further conflict.

With at least 4,300 casualties reported in Lebanon since the escalation of violence began on March 2, the situation remains dire. The recent airstrikes included notable targets such as Ali al-Taher hill, a strategic area near the Litani River, and were described as the most intense attacks in the past two months.

In a broader context, Israel has maintained a military presence in southern Lebanon, asserting that it will not withdraw until Hezbollah is disarmed. This stance has been met with criticism, as it contradicts commitments made in the ongoing peace framework negotiations, which aim for the Lebanese army to regain control of the area.

Source: www.france24.com