Lebanese leaders have condemned the Israeli bombing of southern Lebanon that has killed at least 11 people in the worst attacks since the renewal of a ceasefire was brokered in June by the United States. Lebanon and Israel have agreed to two truce agreements – June 4 and 26 – mediated by US President Donald Trump’s administration. June 4 ceasefire was contingent on a “complete cessation” of Hezbollah fire and the evacuation of its fighters.
The June 26 framework agreement did not specifically call for the withdrawal of the Israeli forces and instead tied it to the disarmament of Hezbollah. The agreements came after another truce announced in April had unravelled. Both the ceasefires, opposed by Hezbollah, have not stopped the Israeli military from expanding its control over Lebanese territory and carrying out deadly attacks.
An Israeli escalation came as the Lebanese government is planning to hold another round of talks with Israel next month. So what is behind the latest Israeli escalation, and where do the talks stand? Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health said at least 11 people, including several children, were killed on Saturday in Israeli strikes in the southern district of Nabatieh.
Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported that seven people were killed and three wounded when Israeli warplanes struck a house on the outskirts of Ansar village, destroying the building. Four other people were killed in a strike on the village of Deir al-Zahrani. Reporting from Nabatieh on Saturday, Al Jazeera’s Ali Hashem said the Israeli attack came, after midnight, killing members of a family and creating more fear for other people who live in this area.
There’s now this escalation, along with apparently more Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon. We are seeing many demolitions. They are erasing towns and villages in the south,” he said.
The Israeli army carried out an air strike on the Ali al-Taher ridge in the Nabatieh district near the UNESCO-listed Beaufort Castle. Footage verified by Al Jazeera showed flames and smoke rising from the area between the Ali al-Taher hills and the Dabsha area amid the sound of explosions. Al-Manar, Hezbollah’s TV channel, said the blasts were a result of Israeli air attacks in the area while the Nabatieh news channel reported that the raids took place near the town of Kfar Reman.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
