Israeli Strikes Intensify Despite Lebanon Ceasefire

Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon killed four people, including two women, on Sunday, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. The strikes followed what Israel described as Hezbollah drone attacks in areas occupied by Israeli troops. The violence occurred despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire with Hezbollah agreed in June, under which Israel continues to operate in a self-declared security zone in southern Lebanon. Two men were reportedly killed in a town near the edge of the occupied zone, while the two women died in Arab Salim, a town located well north of the area held by Israeli forces. Israel issued an evacuation warning at 6 a.m. local time for areas near a building in Arab Salim, saying the structure was being used by Hezbollah. The subsequent strike injured six people, including two girls. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun’s office condemned the attacks as “a dangerous escalation,” saying they destroyed a hospital and damaged a Finance Ministry building. Aoun’s office accused Israel of targeting civilian and health facilities and called on the United States and the international community to intervene and hold those responsible accountable. The Israeli military said its targets were Hezbollah weapons-storage facilities and a command centre inside a building previously used as a hospital. It said precision weapons and aerial surveillance were used to reduce civilian harm. Sunday’s evacuation warning was only the second issued since the ceasefire began. The article also reports that four people were killed and 23 wounded in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon on Friday, attacks Israel said targeted Hezbollah weapons facilities. Hezbollah accused Israel of escalating pressure on the Lebanese government, which has been holding U.S.-brokered talks with Israel—negotiations rejected by the Iran-backed group. More than 4,300 people have reportedly been killed by Israeli strikes in Lebanon since March 2, when Hezbollah launched attacks on Israel in support of Iran.

Israeli strikes killed four people, including two women, in southern Lebanon on September 6, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. The strikes followed what Israel said were Hezbollah drone attacks against areas occupied by Israeli troops. The attacks occurred despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreed with Hezbollah in June, while Israeli forces continue to operate inside a self-declared security zone in southern Lebanon. Two men were killed in a town near the edge of the zone, and two women were killed in Arab Salim, a town north of the occupied area. Israel had issued an evacuation warning at 6 a.m. local time for areas near a building in Arab Salim that it said Hezbollah was using. The subsequent strike injured six people, including two girls. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun’s office condemned the attacks as a “dangerous escalation,” saying they destroyed a hospital and damaged a Finance Ministry building. It accused Israel of targeting civilian administrative and health facilities and called on the United States and the international community to intervene. The Israeli military said the targets were Hezbollah weapons storage facilities and a command centre located in a building previously used as a hospital. It said precision munitions and aerial surveillance were used to reduce risks to civilians. The evacuation warning was only the second issued since the June ceasefire; the first came on August 5 near Tyre. The latest violence follows Israeli strikes on Friday that killed four people and injured 23 others without prior evacuation warnings. Hezbollah said Israel was escalating to pressure the Lebanese government, which is holding U.S.-backed direct talks with Israel—negotiations Hezbollah rejects. More than 4,300 people have been killed by Israeli strikes in Lebanon since March 2, when Hezbollah launched attacks on Israel in support of Iran.

At least four people were killed and 20 injured in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon on Sunday, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry, which described the toll as preliminary. The attacks followed the launch of two explosive drones by Hezbollah at Israeli troops positioned in what Israel calls its security zone. Israel’s military said one drone was intercepted and that there were no Israeli casualties. It later warned residents near a building in Arab Salim to leave, saying the site was being used by Hezbollah and would be attacked. Hezbollah did not immediately comment. The Health Ministry reported two deaths and two injuries in Nabatieh Al Fawqa; eight injuries, including those of a woman and a child, in the Al Rahibat neighbourhood of Nabatieh; two deaths and six injuries, including two children, in Arab Salim; and four injuries in Kfar Reman. Emergency teams were still assessing the damage, meaning the casualty figures could rise. The latest strikes followed an Israeli bombing campaign on Friday night that killed five people and injured 24 across five locations in southern Lebanon and the western Bekaa Valley. The campaign was the first Israeli strike activity in the western Bekaa Valley since June and came after Israel said it had cleared Hezbollah fighters from the strategic Ali Al Taher ridge. The ridge has been a flashpoint despite a ceasefire announced in June. Israel said Hezbollah had built tunnels beneath it, while Hezbollah denied reports that Iranian personnel were present and downplayed the ridge’s importance. Israel said Friday’s attacks targeted weapons storage sites intended for Hezbollah. Lebanon’s health authorities say more than 4,300 people have been killed in Israeli strikes since March 2, underscoring the continuing escalation along the border.